Editing 2004 in Ireland

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive -->
{{For|Northern Ireland|2004 in Northern Ireland}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2022}}

{{YearInIrelandNav|2004}}

Events from the year '''2004 in Ireland'''.

==Incumbents==
* [[President of Ireland|President]]: [[Mary McAleese]]
* [[Taoiseach]]: [[Bertie Ahern]] ([[Fianna Fáil|FF]])
* [[Tánaiste]]: [[Mary Harney]] ([[Progressive Democrats|PD]])
* [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]]:
** [[Charlie McCreevy]] ([[Fianna Fáil|FF]]) (until 29 September 2004)
** [[Brian Cowen]] ([[Fianna Fáil|FF]]) (from 29 September 2004)
* [[Chief Justice of Ireland|Chief Justice]]:
** [[Ronan Keane]] (until 2004)
** [[John L. Murray (judge)|John L. Murray]] (from 23 July 2004)
* [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]]: [[29th Dáil|29th]]
* [[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]]: [[22nd Seanad|22nd]]

== Events ==

=== January ===

* 1 January – 
** [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] assumed the rotating position of the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] for six months.
** [[Taoiseach]] [[Bertie Ahern]] assumed the rotating position of the [[President of the European Council]] for six months.
** [[Scouting Ireland]] was created when the merger between [[Scouting Ireland (CSI)]] and the [[Scout Association of Ireland|Scout Association of Ireland (SAI)]] became effective.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scouts Link across the Border |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-111781465/scouts-link-across-the-border |publisher=[[The News Letter]] |access-date= |date=1 January 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106171904/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-111781465/scouts-link-across-the-border |archive-date=6 November 2018}}</ref>

=== February ===

* 28 February – Five people were killed in a bus crash at Wellington Quay, [[Dublin]].

=== March ===
* 16 March – The [[cooling tower]]s of Rhode Power Station, near [[Kilbeggan]], [[County Westmeath]], were demolished.
* 27 March – Ireland's rugby team won the [[Triple Crown (rugby union)|Triple Crown]] for the first time since 1985.
* 29 March – A [[smoking ban]] introduced by [[Minister for Health (Ireland)|Minister for Health]], [[Micheál Martin]], came into effect in all pubs, restaurants, and work places.<ref name="relief">{{cite web |title=Welsh Pub Relief for Irish Smokers |last=Clark |first=Rhodri |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-115560847 |work=Western Mail|url-access=subscription |date=2004-04-20}}</ref>

=== April ===

* 20 April – Welsh pub landlords reported an increase in the number of Irish patrons visiting Wales where they could avoid the restrictions of Ireland's new smoking ban which prohibited smoking in Irish pubs. The drinkers could travel to Wales by ferryboat for as little as £10 for a day-return ticket, smoke cigarettes while drinking, and pay lower prices for their alcohol.<ref name="relief" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Fags alot, say Irish |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-115814619.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611020309/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-115814619.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-06-11 |publisher=Sunday Mirror|date=2004-04-25}}</ref>

=== May ===

* 1–25 May – Heads of government celebrated in Dublin as the [[European Union]] admitted ten new member states.
* 18 May – [[Clare O'Leary]] became the first Irish woman to reach the summit of [[Mount Everest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castlebar.ie/sports-general/Irish_woman_reaches_the_summit_of_Everest_1682.shtml|title=Irish woman reaches the summit of Everest|publisher=Castlebar News|date=2004-05-18|access-date=2018-10-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319085335/http://www.castlebar.ie/sports-general/Irish_woman_reaches_the_summit_of_Everest_1682.shtml|archive-date=2014-03-19}}</ref>

=== June ===

* 11 June
** [[2004 European Parliament election in Ireland|European Parliament Election 2004]] – [[Fine Gael]] emerged as the largest party, eclipsing [[Fianna Fáil]] by one seat. Two Independent [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]s were elected. The [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] won one seat and [[Sinn Féin]] took a seat for the first time ever.
** [[2004 Irish local elections|Local Elections, 2004]] – Fianna Fáil's share of the vote fell sharply while all the other opposition parties made gains. Sinn Féin made a big breakthrough with a record number of councillors being elected.
* 16 June – The [[Grangegorman]] Development Bill was published by the [[Irish Government]].
* 25 June – US President [[George W. Bush]] arrived at [[Shannon Airport]] for a European Union–United States summit.
* 30 June
** [[President of France]] [[Jacques Chirac]] congratulated Ireland on its presidency of the European Commission, saying that it was the "best presidency ever."
** Operations commenced on the [[Luas]] tram's Green Line in Dublin.
* Undated – The first phase of Ireland's first offshore [[wind farm]], the [[Arklow Bank Wind Park]], was commissioned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Arklow Bank 1 Offshore Wind Farm|url=http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/arklow-bank-1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501044511/http://www.lorc.dk/offshore-wind-farms-map/arklow-bank-1|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2012|work=LORC Knowledge|year=2011|access-date=2012-10-09}}</ref>

=== July ===

* 20 July – [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]], [[Charlie McCreevy]], was appointed as Ireland's next [[European Commissioner]].

=== August ===

* 7 August – Athlete Cathal Lombard was accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs at the [[Olympic Games]].
* 13 August – [[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture]], [[Joe Walsh (Irish politician)|Joe Walsh]], announced his retirement from the Cabinet after seven years. He was the longest-serving agriculture minister in Europe.
* 27 August – [[Cian O'Connor]] won a gold medal for Ireland at the [[Olympic Games]] in [[Athens]].

=== September ===

* 8 September – Former [[Taoiseach]] [[John Bruton]] was appointed EU Ambassador to the United States.
* 14 September – [[Mary McAleese]] announced her intention to run for a second term as [[President of Ireland]].
* 29 September – Bertie Ahern reshuffled his cabinet. [[Michael Smith (Irish politician)|Michael Smith]], [[Joe Walsh (Irish politician)|Joe Walsh]] and [[Charlie McCreevy]] retired from the government. [[Brian Cowen]]  became [[Minister for Finance (Ireland)|Minister for Finance]] and [[Dermot Ahern]] became [[Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade|Minister for Foreign Affairs]]. [[Mary Hanafin]], [[Dick Roche]], and [[Willie O'Dea]] joined the Cabinet table for the first time.  [[Séamus Brennan]] was assigned to the position of [[Minister for Social Protection|Minister for Social and Family Affairs]]. [[Mary Coughlan (politician)|Mary Coughlan]] becomes Ireland's first female [[Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine|Minister for Agriculture and Food]].<ref>[https://www.rulers.org/2004-09.html September 2004] Rulers. Retrieved: 2018-10-31.</ref>
* 30 September
** Leader of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP), [[Ian Paisley]], made a historic first visit to Dublin for political talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
** The [[Luas]] tram's Red Line commenced operation from [[Tallaght]] to [[Connolly Station]].

=== October ===

* 1 October – As nominations for presidential candidates closed, [[Mary McAleese]] was re-elected unopposed for a second term as President of Ireland.
* 2 October – Ireland's second national television channel, N2, reverted to its original name of [[RTÉ Two]].
* 5 October – The Government issued an Irish passport to British hostage [[Ken Bigley]] in an effort to secure his release from his Iraqi captors.
* 16 October – Bertie Ahern held discussions with [[United Nations Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] in Dublin.
* 19 October – Dublin-born aid worker [[Margaret Hassan]] was kidnapped in Iraq.

=== November ===

* 1 November – The [[International Equestrian Federation]] confirmed that part of a B sample{{clarify|REASON=WHAT'S A B SAMPLE?|date=March 2023}} of "Waterford Crystal," the horse ridden by [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] showjumping gold medallist [[Cian O'Connor]], had been stolen in England.
* 3 November – [[Fran Rooney]] resigned as chief executive of the [[Football Association of Ireland]].
* 9 November – Banned substances were confirmed in the B{{clarify|REASON=WHAT DOES B MEAN?|date=March 2023}} blood sample of the horse, "Waterford Crystal."
* 15 November – [[Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth|Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs]], [[Éamon Ó Cuív]], escaped injury when his ministerial car was involved in a head-on collision with another car in [[County Kerry]].
* 16 November – Margaret Hassan was murdered by her captors in Iraq.
* 22 November – Bertie Ahern celebrated ten years as leader of the Fianna Fáil party.

=== December ===

* 15 December – The ''Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004'' was enacted. Inter alia, this provided that children born of most foreign national parents on the island of Ireland were no longer automatically entitled to Irish citizenship.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/accept-irish-citizenship-while-you-may-1.472859 Accept Irish citizenship while you may] Irish Times, 2005-07-26.</ref><ref>[http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/irish_citizenship_through_birth_or_descent.html Irish citizenship through birth or descent] Citizens Information. Retrieved: 2018-10-31.</ref><ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2004/act/38/enacted/en/html Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004] Electronic Irish Statute Book. Retrieved: 2018-10-31.</ref>
* 16 December – In [[Colombia]], the Penal Chamber of [[Bogotá]]'s Supreme Tribunal handed down lengthy jail sentences to the Irish [[Colombia Three]] for training Colombian Marxist rebels.
* 18 December – The "Colombia Three", Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, jumped bail.
* 19 December – President McAleese convened a meeting of the [[Council of State (Ireland)|Council of State]] to discuss the Health Amendment II Bill, which was presented the previous week by the Health Minister [[Mary Harney]].
* 26 December – Four [[Irish people]] were among the [[Countries affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake|victims]] of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean tsunami]].
* 31 December – Taoiseach [[Bertie Ahern]] pledged €10 million in humanitarian aid to people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in South and Southeast Asia.
* The ''[[Italian Quarter, Dublin|Italian Quarter]]'' private development opened in Dublin, incorporating the photographic mural ''[[Dublin's Last Supper]]''.<ref name = DM>{{Cite web|last=McDonagh|first=Darragh|date=2019-06-25|title=Wallace-owned bars saw profit rise by 84% last year|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/wallace-owned-bars-saw-profit-rise-by-84-last-year-1.3936962|access-date=2023-08-08|website=[[The Irish Times]]|language=en}}</ref><ref name = PA>{{cite web|url=https://www.publicart.ie/main/directory/directory/view/dublins-last-supper/e793abe5734565de4ef3ce199861dac5/ |title=Dublin's Last Supper|work=publicart.ie|access-date=2023-08-08}}</ref><ref name = MF>{{Cite web|last=Freeman|first=Michael|date=2012-02-22|title=Mick Wallace properties now worth just €4million|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/mick-wallace-properties-now-worth-just-e4million-362735-Feb2012/|access-date=2023-08-08|website=[[thejournal.ie]]|language=en}}</ref>

==Arts and literature==
{{See also|2004 in Irish music}}
* 4 March – ''[[Dublin: Foundation]]'', an [[historical novel]] by [[Edward Rutherfurd]], was published.
* 27 August – The film ''[[Adam & Paul]]'' was released.
* 14 October – The [[Lewis Glucksman Gallery]] at [[University College Cork]], designed by [[O'Donnell & Tuomey]], was opened by the President.
* [[Cecelia Ahern]]'s first novel ''[[PS, I Love You (novel)|PS, I Love You]]'' was published.
* [[Arlene Hunt]]'s first novel, the Dublin-set detective fiction ''Vicious Circle'', was published.
* [[Colm Tóibín]]'s novel ''[[The Master (novel)|The Master]]'' was published.

==Sport==

===Association football===
*  '''[[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|Football World Cup 2006 Qualification]]'''
** [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] 3–0 [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]]
** [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] 0–3 [[Poland national football team|Poland]]
** Republic of Ireland 1–1 [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]]
** Northern Ireland 2–2 [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
** Republic of Ireland 0–0 [[France national football team|France]]
** Northern Ireland 0–0 [[Azerbaijan national football team|Azerbaijan]]
** Republic of Ireland 2–0 [[Faroe Islands national football team|Faroe Islands]]
** Northern Ireland 0–0 [[Austria national football team|Austria]]
*  '''[[League of Ireland]]'''
** '''Winners: '''[[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]
*  '''[[FAI Cup]] Final'''
**  [[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]] 2–1 [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
*  '''[[UEFA Champions League]]'''
Shelbourne defeated [[KR Reykjavík]] in the first qualifying round on away goals. In the second qualifying round, Shelbourne lost the first leg 3–2 away to [[HNK Hajduk Split|Hajduk Split]], but two late goals in the home leg at [[Tolka Park]] meant they became the first Irish team to make it to the third qualifying round. After a 0–0 draw with [[Deportivo de La Coruña]] in front of 25,000 fans at [[Lansdowne Road]], the Irish team lost 3–0 in Spain.

*  '''[[UEFA Cup]]'''
[[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] and [[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]] suffered disappointing first qualifying round defeats to [[FC Levadia Tallinn]] and [[FC Vaduz]] respectively. Shelbourne entered the first round proper after their Champions League third qualifying round exit, but missed out on a place in the UEFA Cup group stages. After a 2–2 draw at Lansdowne Road, Shelbourne lost 0–2 in the return leg against French side [[Lille OSC|Lille]].

===Gaelic games===
* '''[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final 2004]]'''
** [[Cork GAA|Cork]] 0–17 – 0–9 [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]]
* '''[[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship|All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final 2004]]'''
** [[Kerry GAA|Kerry]] 1–20 – 2–9 [[Mayo GAA|Mayo]]

===Golf===
* '''[[2004 Ryder Cup|Ryder Cup]]'''
** Three [[Ireland|Irishmen]], [[Pádraig Harrington]], [[Darren Clarke]], and [[Paul McGinley]], featured prominently on the victorious [[Europe]]an team.
* '''[[Irish Open (golf)|Nissan Irish Open]]''' was won by [[Brett Rumford]] (Australia).

===Olympic Games===
{{further|Ireland at the 2004 Summer Olympics}}
* [[Cian O'Connor]] and the horse Waterford Crystal won gold for Ireland in the equestrian event. O'Connor was later stripped of this title because the horse tested positive for a prohibited substance.

===Rugby union===
* '''[[2004 Six Nations Championship]]'''
** [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 19–3 [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]]
** [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 37–16 [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
** [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 19–13 [[England national rugby union team|England]]
** [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 17–35 [[France national rugby union team|France]]
** [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 36–15 [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
** Ireland won the [[Triple Crown (Rugby Union)|Triple Crown]] for the first time since 1985.  The team also became the first to beat England since their [[2003 Rugby Union World Cup|World Cup]] win.
* '''[[2003–04 Heineken Cup]]'''
** Only [[Munster Rugby|Munster]] advanced from the group stage and were defeated in the semi-finals.

==Deaths==

* 5 February – [[Harry West]], leader of the [[Ulster Unionist Party]] from 1974 to 1979, [[Parliament of Northern Ireland|Stormont MP]], Minister for Agriculture (born 1917).
* 18 February – [[Tommy Eglington]], soccer player (born 1923).
* 2 March – [[Cormac McAnallen]], Tyrone Gaelic footballer (born 1980).
* 4 March – [[Paddy Ruschitzko]], [[Laois GAA|Laois]] hurler (born 1917).
* 6 March – [[Tom Leonard (Irish politician)|Tom Leonard]], Fianna Fáil [[Teachta Dála|TD]] (born 1924).
* 24 March – [[Richard Leech]], actor (born 1922).
* 7 April – [[Maureen Potter]], singer, actress and comedian (born 1925).
* 8 April – [[Enda Colleran]], former Gaelic footballer (born 1941).
* 12 April – [[Sean Delaney (sportsman)|Sean Delaney]], former soccer player and coach (born 1949).
* 11 May – [[Mick Doyle (rugby union)|Mick Doyle]], rugby player and coach, killed in car crash (born 1941).
* 3 June – [[Joe Carr]], amateur golfer (born 1922).
* 6 June – [[Simon Cumbers]], journalist murdered in Saudi Arabia (born 1968).
* 8 June
** [[Kit Lawlor]], soccer player (born 1922).
** [[Máirín Lynch]], widow of former Taoiseach [[Jack Lynch]] (born 1916).
* 24 June – [[Douglas Gageby]], journalist and editor of ''[[The Irish Times]]'' (born 1918).
* 23 July – [[Joe Cahill]], former [[List of IRA Chiefs of Staff|Chief of Staff]] of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (born 1920).
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Margaret Hassan.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Margaret Hassan]] -->
*8 October – [[Fergus Bourke]], photographer (born 1934).
* 16 November – [[Margaret Hassan]], aid worker in Iraq, kidnapped and murdered by [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgents]] (born 1945).
* 20 November – [[Ian Lewis (cricketer)|Ian Lewis]], cricketer (born 1935).
* 8 December – [[Digby McLaren]], geologist and [[palaeontology|palaeontologist]] in Canada (born 1919).
* 26 December – [[Frank Pantridge]], [[physician]], [[cardiologist]] and inventor of the portable [[defibrillator]] (born 1916).

;Full date unknown
* [[George Harrison (Irish Republican)|George Harrison]], member of the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] and alleged gun-runner (born 1915).

==See also==
*[[2004 in Irish television]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Years in Ireland}}
{{Year in Europe|2004}}