2005 in Northern Ireland
2005 in Northern Ireland
Events
- January 20 - Belfast man Robert McCartney is murdered outside a bar in the city by members of the Provisional IRA.
- February 17 - Seven people are detained by Gardaí for suspected activities in relation to the bank heist in Belfast in December 2004. £2.3 million sterling is seized in County Cork.
- March 17 - St. Patrick's Day: The sisters and fiancée of murdered Belfast-man, Robert McCartney, meet US President George W. Bush in the United States.
- July 28 - In what has been described as an "historic" day the Provisional Irish Republican Army ends its armed campaign and orders all its units to dump arms. The organisation also orders its members not to engage in any other activities of any kind.
- September 7 - At Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland beat England 1-0. It is the first time since 1927 that the team has beaten England at home.
- September 26 - In a move described as "the day the gun was taken out of Irish politics", the head of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, General John de Chastelain, says that he is satisfied that the Irish Republican Army has completed the decommissioning of its entire arsenal of weapons.
- November 24 - Abbas Boutrab becomes the first non republican or loyalist to be convicted in the diplock courts of Northern Ireland - he is convinced of having information that could be used to bomb an airliner.
- November 25 - George Best, the man described as the greatest footballer of his or any generation, dies in London after several months of declining health.
- December 8 - President Mary McAleese meets Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle. It is the first time that the two heads of state meet in Ireland.
Arts and literature
Sport
Rugby Union
Football
- Football World Cup 2006 Qualification
- Northern Ireland 0-4 England
- Northern Ireland 0-1 Poland
- Northern Ireland 2-0 Azerbaijan
- Northern Ireland 1-0 England
- Northern Ireland 2-3 Wales
- Northern Ireland 0-2 Austria
- Both Ireland teams failed to qualify
- Winners: Linfield F.C.
- Winners: Glentoran
- Winners: Portadown F.C.
- The IFA celebrated it's 125th Anniversary
- The UEFA under 19 European championship was hosted by Ireland, with the final won by France in Windsor Park on the 29th of July
- There was an all-Irish clash in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Shelbourne defeated Glentoran 6-2 on aggregate. Shels lost out in the following round to Steaua Bucharest.
Gaelic Athletic Association
Golf
Deaths
- August 19 - Mo Mowlam, 11th British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
- August 26 - Gerry Fitt, founder of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.
- November 25 - George Best, former Northern Ireland and Manchester United footballer.