2008 in Ireland

Incumbents

* President - Mary McAleese
* Taoiseach - Bertie Ahern (to May 7), Brian Cowen
* Tánaiste - Brian Cowen (to May 7), Mary Coughlan

Events

January

*January 1 - Philip Hogarty (aged 19) becomes the first road death on Irish roads in 2008 after being struck by a Garda patrol car in Tallaght. Philip was chairman of the Irish Chess Union. [cite web | title=Philip Hogarty 1988-2008 | work=Rathmines Chess Club: News and Events | url=http://rathmineschessclub.wordpress.com/2008/01/01/philip-hogarty/ | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 2 - After 36 years in business, The Burlington Hotel in Dublin closes, with the loss of 400 jobs. [cite news | title=Dublin's Burlington Hotel closes today | url=http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0102/jurys.html|date=2008-01-02|work=RTÉ Business| accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 4 - An unforecasted blizzard hits the country, leading to the heaviest snowfall in Ireland since December 2000.
*January 9 - After days of heavy rainfall in the South West serious flooding occurs in Fermoy and Mallow with parts of Mallow under 1.3 m of water. [ [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0110/weather.html RTE News] ]
*January 13 - Following months of protest, Aer Lingus complete their last Shannon to Heathrow flight.
*January 16 - Wayne O'Donoghue is released from prison after serving three years of a four year jail term for the manslaughter of Robert Holohan (aged 11) in January 2005. [cite news | first=David | last=Labanyi | title=Wayne O'Donoghue released from prison | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0116/breaking4.html?via=mr|date=2008-01-16|work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 21 - €4bn was wiped off the Irish Stock Exchange as the worlds stock markets slumped.
*January 23 - The brother of a Real IRA leader is one of two Irish citizens arrested in Lithuania on suspicion of buying firearms and explosives for the Real IRA. [cite news | first=Henry | last=McDonald | title=Real IRA man's brother arrested in Lithuania weapons sting | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,,2245593,00.html|date=2008-01-23|work=The Guardian | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 25 - The closure of the Jacob's plant in Tallaght, County Dublin, is announced, with the loss of 220 jobs by March 2009. [cite news |title=Jacob Fruitfield factory to lay off 220 staff | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0125/breaking51.htm|date=2008-01-25|work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-08]
*January 26 - Martin Foley, aka "The Viper", is shot in south Dublin possibly as part of an ongoing feud between criminal gangs. It was the fifth failed attempt on Mr Foley's life. [cite news | title=Criminal Foley remains critical after shooting | url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0126/dublin1.html?rss|date=2008-01-26|work=RTÉ News| accessdate=2008-02-08]

February

*February 1 - Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, travels to Ballymena to meet First Minister, Ian Paisley, and open a resort and spa. [cite news | first=Dan | last=McGinn | title=Taoiseach bound for Ballymena | work=The Belfast Telegraph | page= 2 | date=2008-02-01 ]
*February 4 - Dublin based gangland criminal, Paddy Doyle, is shot dead in Southern Spain. [cite news |title=Irish criminal shot and killed in Spain | url=http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0204/breaking59.htm|date=2008-02-04|work=The Irish Times | accessdate=2008-02-10]
*February 6 - Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, announces €250,000 grant to allow Orange Lodges to employ a development officer. [cite news | first=Claire | last=McNeilly | title=Dublin funds new Orange post | work=The Belfast Telegraph | page= 5 | date=2008-02-05 ]
*February 13 - Giovanni Trapattoni is confirmed as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team.
*February 23 - Two Polish men were attacked with screwdrivers by a gang of teenagers in Drimnagh Southside Dublin. Both died later from their injuries.
*February 29 - Ireland became the 22nd nation to recognize Kosovan independence

March

*March 5 - A jury finds Brian Kearney guilty of the murder of his wife, Siobhán Kearney, at their home in Goatstown in February 2006.
*12 March - Libertas lobby group launches a campaign called "Facts, not politics" which advocates a No vote in the Treaty of Lisbon. [cite news
url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0312/eulisbon.html
title=Anti-Lisbon treaty campaign is launched
work=RTÉ News
date=2008-03-12]
*March 14 - The Economic and Social Research Institute predicted that economic growth in Ireland for 2008 will be 1.6%, the lowest level since 1988. It was also forecast that no new jobs will be added to the Irish economy for the first time since 1991. [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0314/economy.html]
*March 26 - Farmer Michael Hanrahan, 60 , and his son Denis Hanrahan, 27, are found shot dead at their home in Moyvane, County Kerry.

April

*April 2 - Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announces that he will resign as Head of Government on May 6.
*April 8 - Brian Cowen is elected as the seventh leader of Fianna Fáil.
*April 12 - Patrick Hillery, sixth President and former Minister and European Commissioner, dies aged 84.
*April 15 - The case of broadcaster Pat Kenny and his neighbour, Gerard Charlrton, involving the claiming of an area of land near their home, was settled by the court. It was decided that Kenny would pay an undisclosed sum of money for the land called Gorse Hill.
*April 17 - Ciarán Cannon becomes the leader of the Progressive Democrats
*April 21 - It is revealed that four laptops belonging to Bank of Ireland and containing personal information of approximately 10,000 customers were stolen between June and October 2007
*April 30 - Bertie Ahern becomes the sixth Irish leader to address both houses of the United States Congress.

May

* May 6 - As part of one of his last engagements as Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern opens a new visitors centre at the site of the Battle of the Boyne in County Meath alongside Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley
* May 7 - Dáil Éireann elects Fianna Fáil leader Brian Cowen as Taoiseach.
* May 10 - 16 year-old Roman Vysochan, a Ukrainian national, is found stabbed to death in Corbally on the outskirts of Limerick City.
* May 11 - A 51 year-old man is killed and another seriously injured in a small plane crash in Kilmovee, County Mayo.
* May 14 - An excavation is carried out in the Slieve Bloom Mountains for the remains of Fiona Pender, who has been missing since 1996, following the discovery of a cross with her name printed on it.
* May 20 - Dustin the Turkey fails to qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 after being knocked out at the first semi-finals stage.
* May 24 - Celebrations take place across Munster as the Munster rugby team beat Toulouse 16-13 in the 2007-08 Heineken Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

June

* June 12 - Treaty of Lisbon Referendum: The Irish public vote on whether to ratify or reject the Lisbon Treaty
*June 13 - Rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon by Irish voters: 53% votes "No" against 47% votes "Yes".
*June 16 - Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, meets with EU leaders to discuss the future of the Lisbon Treaty.
*June 28 - A syndicate of workers at a concrete products plant in County Carlow become the winners of Ireland's biggest ever lottery jackpot of €18,963,441.
*June 30 - The law requiring learner drivers on a second provisional licence to be accompanied by a fully qualified driver comes into effect.

July

* July 1 - New VRT rates are introduced. VRT will now be based on carbon dioxide emissions.
* July 8 - The Department of Finance announce a €440m spending cutback in the budget including €144m off the Department of Health and Children
* July 11-13 - Oxegen 2008 takes place at Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare.
* July 21 - French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits Ireland to discuss with Brian Cowen the future of the Lisbon Treaty.
* July 28 - Ryanair reveals a loss in profit for the first time since becoming a public company in 1997.
* July 31 - Heavy rainfall brings flash floods to Newcastle West in County Limerick and Mallow, County Cork.

August

*August 2 to August 10 - Jamboree 2008, an international Jamboree takes place in Punchestown.
*August 3 - 37-year-old Ger McDonnell, the first Irishman to reach the summit of K2, is presumed dead after being hit by falling ice upon descent.
*August 9 - Donegal's Chloe Magee becomes the first ever Irish Olympian to win a badminton match at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [cite news |title=Magee reveals her winning secret | url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics2008/2008/0809/mageec.html|date=2008-08-09|work=RTÉ | accessdate=2008-08-09]
*August 9 - Flash floods occurred in County Dublin and County Kildare due to record rainfalls approx. 80 litre per square metre.
*August 10 - Pádraig Harrington wins the USPGA
*August 16 - A Dublin to Cork train derails south of Portarlington, County Laois.

eptember

*September 3 - Ireland's unemployment rate reaches 6.1%, the highest since 1999.
*September 7 - Kilkenny beat Waterford 3-30 to 1-13 in the final of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008.
*September 19 - Three people suffer minor injuries following a helicopter crash in a school playground in Bettystown, County Meath.
*September 21 - Tyrone beat Kerry 1-15 to 0-14 to be crowned All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008 winners.
*September 25 - It is announced that the Irish economy had officially entered recession in January 2008 for the first time since 1983.
*September 30 - The Government decides during the night to offer a 400 billion guarantee to initially 6 leading Irish banks to prevent their collapse due to the global Economic crisis of 2008

October

*October 2 - For the first time in its history since 1922, the seanad begins debate of a bill after midnight, the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008 which it passed at 8am

Future or Predicted events

Year Long

* Scouting in Ireland celebrates its centenary. Events to celebrate the centenary are planned throughout the year with the National Jamboree, and an exhibition in the National Museum as highlights.

port

Association Football

*Internationals:6 February - Republic of Ireland 0 - 1 Brazil:24 May - Republic of Ireland 1 - 1 Serbia

*World Cup 2010 Qualifiers [cite web | title=Matches - 2010 FIFA World Cup | work=FIFA |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/europe/teams/team=43953/fixturesresults.html | accessdate=2008-01-27] :6 September - Georgia 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland:10 September - Montenegro 0 - 0 Republic of Ireland:15 October - Republic of Ireland v Cyprus

*"'Setanta Cup
**Winners:

* Eircom League
**Winners:

* FAI Ford Cup
**Winners:

Athletics

*26 January-27 January - Irish Indoor Athletics Championships, Odyssey Arena, Belfast.

Gaelic Athletic Association

*Football :All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2008 (Winners - Tyrone):National Football League 2008
*Hurling :All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2008 (Winners - Kilkenny):National Hurling League 2008

Golf

*Irish Open - Adare Manor, May 2008

Rugby Union

* 2008 Six Nations Championship:2 February - Ireland 16 - 11 Italy :9 February - France 26 - 21 Ireland:23 February - Ireland 34 - 13 Scotland:8 March - Ireland 12 v 16 Wales:15 March - England 33 v 10 Ireland

:Ireland come fourth, their lowest finishing position since 1999

* 2007-08 Heineken Cup:Muster champions - Toulouse 16-13 Muster

Olympics

* Beijing Olympics:Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics - 3 medals:Ireland at the 2008 Summer Paralympics - 5 medals

Deaths

*1 January - Peter Caffrey, actor (b.1949).
*3 January - John O'Donohue, poet and philosopher (b.1956).
*26 January - Raymond Daniels, 28, footballer (Wicklow GAA), suspected heart attack. [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gaa-star-dies-on-night-out-1275631.html]
*27 January - Dan Kavanagh, 87, former Kerry Gaelic footballer.
*1 February - Brendan O'Reagan, 91, founder of airport duty-free
*13 February - Paul Goldin, hypnotist [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0213/breaking59.htm]
*23 February - Jim English, former Wexford hurler (b.1932).
*29 February - Chris Cary, 61, broadcaster and founder of Radio Nova (Ireland). Died in on a working trip in Tenerife from a stroke.
*5 March - Jimmy Faulkner, guitarist with Christy Moore and other groups. [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0305/faulknerj.html]
*6 March - Garry McMahon, former Kerry Gaelic footballer.
*7 March - Tommy O'Brien, 63, former handballer.
*3 April - Brendan O'Brien, 67, musician (The Dixies), probable heart attack. [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0404/obrienb.html]
*4 April - Pat Stakelum, former Tipperary hurler (b.1927).
*12 April - Patrick Hillery, 84, former President of Ireland.
*13 April - Michael Mills, 80, former journalist and Ireland's first government ombudsman (1984–1994). [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0414/millsm.html]
*28 April - John Barron, 74, former Waterford hurler.
*2 May - Martin Codd, former Wexford hurler (b.1929).
*9 May - Nuala Ó Faoláin, 68, journalist and writer.
*21 May - Brian Keenan, 66, Provisional Irish Republican Army member.
*31 May - Terry Keane, 68, former gossip columnist.
*28 June - Paddy Canny, 89, fiddle player.
*9 July - Séamus Brennan, 60, Fianna Fáil TD and former government minister.
*22 July - Paudie O'Donoghue, 64, former Kerry Gaelic footballer.
*2 August - Ger McDonnell, 37, mountaineer, first Irishman to reach K2 summit, climbing accident. [http://www.irishecho.com/newspaper/story.cfm?id=18790]
*3 August - Con O'Shea, former Kerry Gaelic footballer.
*9 August - Colm Condon, 87, lawyer, Attorney General (1965–1973). [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article4607229.ece]
*13 August - Nollaig Ó Gadhra, 64, Irish language activist, journalist and historian, co-founder of Teilifís na Gaeilge. [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0815/1218477654087.html]
*16 August - Ronnie Drew, 73, singer, founding member of The Dubliners, after long illness. [http://www.kerryman.ie/breaking-news/national-news/dubliners-musician-ronnie-drew-dies-1457347.html]
*28 August - Larry Fanning, 86, former Waterford hurler.
*15 September - Ciaran Duffy, 42, managing director of Namibia Breweries Limited, cancer. [http://allafrica.com/stories/200809220915.html]
*21 September - Paul Tansey, 59, economics editor ("The Irish Times"). [http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0922/tanseyp.html]
*24 September - Claude Wilton, 89, Northern Irish politician, solicitor and civil rights campaigner
*26 September - Bernadette Greevy, 68, mezzo-soprano.

References