2001 in Northern Ireland

Events

*29 April - 2001 Census carried out. Northern Ireland population: 1,685,267 [ [http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/Census2001Output/PopulationReport/populationreport1.html NI Statistics and Research Agency] ] .
*15 June - dispute arose between local loyalist and republican activists on the Crumlin Road peace line in North Belfast over the flying of loyalist paramilitary flags. Loyalists began to picket the nearby Holy Cross Primary School. This continued throughout June.
*3 September - Loyalist pickets at Holy Cross resumed when school re-opened. Led to unrest and rioting in September.
* 23 October - Provisional Irish Republican Army announces that it has begun to decommission its weapons. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/23/newsid_2489000/2489099.stm "IRA begins decommissioning weapons" BBC On This Day] ]
*4 November - The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is established.
*12 November - 400 police officers involved in escorting the children and their parents to and from Holy Cross school.
*November 17 - The Gaelic Athletic Association votes to abolish its controversial "Rule 21." Members of the British army and the PSNI in Northern Ireland will henceforth be permitted to play.
*22 November - First Minister David Trimble and Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan met with residents of Upper Ardoyne, and the next day, 23 November, the protest was called off after 14 weeks.
*Saint Patrick Visitor Centre opens in Downpatrick.

Arts and literature

*Odyssey Arena and entertainment complex is opened in Belfast.

port

Boxing

*The Men's 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Belfast from June 3 to June 10. Almost 400 boxers from 67 countries took part in the Odyssey Arena event.

Football

*Irish League::Winners: Linfield

*Irish Cup::Winners: Glentoran 1 - 0 Linfield (after extra time)

Golf

*Senior British Open Championship held at Royal County Down Golf Club, (winner:Ian Stanley).
*Graeme McDowell is a member of the Great Britain and Ireland team which retained the Walker Cup at Sea Island in Georgia.

Motorcycling

*Ulster Grand Prix and North West 200 cancelled due to Foot-and Mouth crisis.

Births

Deaths

*14 August - Stanley Hewitt, cricketer (b.1936).
*28 September - Martin O'Hagan, journalist (b.1950).
*12 December - Michael Torrens-Spence, held commissions in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, Ulster Special Constabulary and Ulster Defence Regiment (b.1914).

Full date unknown

*James Simmons, poet, literary critic and songwriter (b.1933).

References