Events from the year 2001 in Ireland.
Incumbents
President: Mary McAleese
Taoiseach: Bertie Ahern (FF) Tánaiste: Mary Harney (PD) Minister for Finance: Charlie McCreevy (FF) Chief Justice: Ronan Keane Dáil: 28th Seanad: 21st
Events
22 March – Ireland confirmed its first case of foot-and-mouth disease. 7 June – Voters rejected the Treaty of Nice in a referendum. 9 September – The National Museum of Ireland's Museum of Country Life at Turlough, County Mayo, was officially opened. 14 September – Ireland held a national day of mourning following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The Irish government cancelled all sports, public functions, and entertainment, and also closed schools, businesses, and shops. President Mary McAleese said that the events are "an attack on the very foundations of human dignity" and left the people of Ireland "sad, shocked, sickened, grieving, disbelieving, outraged, frightened all at once." 14 October – The first multiple state funeral was held in honour of ten Irish Republican Army volunteers who were executed by the British for their part in the War of Independence. 23 October – The Provisional Irish Republican Army commenced disarmament after peace talks. 4 November – The Police Service of Northern Ireland was established. 17 November – The Gaelic Athletic Association voted to abolish its controversial Rule 21 which previously prevented members of the British Army and the Police Service of Northern Ireland from playing Gaelic games. 14 December – Irish euro coins becomes available through the postal service, An Post, and at bank branches. These "starter packs" contained nineteen coins worth €6.35 and could be purchased for IR£5.
Arts and literature
February–April – Conor McPherson's play Port Authority premièred in London and Dublin. 26 June – Two Old Master paintings from the Alfred Beit collection were stolen from Russborough House. 8 August – The first Irish transmission of the Australian soap opera Neighbours was shown on Network 2. 1 October – First season of Bachelors Walk on Network 2. Publication of Julian Gough's novel Juno & Juliet. Publication of John McGahern's last novel That They May Face the Rising Sun. Publication of Kate Thompson's children's novel The Beguilers.
Sport
Show jumping
Kevin Babington, Peter Charles, Jessica Kurten and Dermott Lennon won the senior European Show Jumping Championships Team Gold medals.
Golf
Murphy's Irish Open was won by Colin Montgomerie (Scotland).
Births
5 January – Oisin McEntee, footballer
18 January – Niamh McCormack, actress
27 March – Gaby Lewis, cricketer
15 May – Jake O'Brien, footballer
8 August – Tyler Toland, footballer
19 October – Art Parkinson, actor
Deaths
January to June
5 January – G. E. M. Anscombe, 81, analytic philosopher. 8 January – Jim Russell, 103, hurler, (Shamrocks, Cork senior team). 21 January – Joseph O'Conor, 84, actor. 14 February Charles B. Fitzsimons, 76, actor and film producer. Maurice Levitas, 84, academic and communist. 21 February – Desmond Leslie, 79, pilot, filmmaker and writer. 24 February – Andy Mulligan, 65, rugby union player (London Irish, British & Irish Lions, national team) and journalist. 8 March – Ninette de Valois, 102, founder of the Royal Ballet. 13 March – Norman Rodway, 72, actor. 20 March – Frank O'Reilly, 76, racewalker. 1 April – Brendan O'Reilly, 71, athlete, singer, songwriter, broadcaster and actor. 3 April – Butch Moore, 63, singer and showband icon. 18 May – Seán Mac Stíofáin, 73, English-born, Irish republican paramilitary leader. 1 June – Peter Corr, 77, association footballer (Dundalk, Preston North End, Everton, national team) and father of The Corrs members. 27 June – Michael Moynihan, 84, Senator (1973–1981), TD (1981–1987 and 1989–1992) and Minister of State (1982–1987).