2002 in Ireland

Incumbents

• President: Mary McAleese
• Taoiseach: Bertie Ahern
• Tánaiste: Mary Harney
• Minister for Finance: Charlie McCreevy
• Chief Justice: Ronan Keane
• Dáil:
• * 28th
• * 29th
• Seanad:
• * 21st
• * 22nd

  Events

• 1 January – The Euro Currency officially became the legal tender for the Republic of Ireland, along with the other European Union Eurozone member area countries, replacing the Irish pound by being introduced physically with the official launch of the currency coins and banknotes.
• 9 January – Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev received the Freedom of the City of Dublin.
• 7 March – A referendum on a proposal to amend the Constitution to remove the threat of suicide as a ground for legal abortion was narrowly defeated.
• 13 March – The ferry was introduced on the Fishguard–Rosslare route.
• 21 March – The third Coimisiún na Gaeltachta published its report on strengthening the role of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht.
• 2 April – Brendan Comiskey, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns, resigned after criticism of his handling of abuse cases in the diocese.
• 5 April – The first recruits of the new Police Service of Northern Ireland graduated.
• 17 May – The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats coalition was re-elected in the general election. It was the first government to be re-elected since 1969. Fianna Fáil achieved 80 seats, just four short of an overall majority. Fine Gael lost 23 seats, and the Labour Party remained static. Increased support for Sinn Féin resulted in four extra TDs. Michael Noonan resigned as leader of Fine Gael and Ruairi Quinn resigned as leader of the Labour Party.
• 1 June – The national football team began its 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign.
• 11 October – Geraldine Kennedy was appointed the first female editor of The Irish Times.
• 14 October – As of midnight the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive were suspended by order of the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
• 19 October – Irish voters accepted the Treaty of Nice in the second referendum held on the issue.
• The Garda College Museum and Visitor Centre is opened at the Garda Síochána College, Templemore, County Tipperary.

  Arts and literature

• February – Sebastian Barry's satire Hinterland, based on the life of Charles Haughey, premièred at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, causing controversy.
• 10 August – Niall Bruton's sculpture "Waiting on Shore" was unveiled at Rosses Point.
• 26 September – Five Old Master paintings from the Alfred Beit collection were stolen from Russborough House, the fourth major art theft from this location.
• 25 October – Peter Mullan's film The Magdalene Sisters was released in Ireland.
• The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin won the European Museum of the Year Award.
• John Banville's novel Shroud was published.
• Joseph O'Connor's historical novel Star of the Sea was published.
• Louis le Brocquy's 1951 painting A Family was presented to the National Gallery of Ireland as a gift of Lochlann and Brenda Quinn, the first painting by a living artist to enter the gallery's permanent collection.

  Sport

Association football

• Shelbourne won the League of Ireland for the tenth time.

Show jumping

• Dermott Lennon won the individual Show Jumping World Championship on Liscalgot.

  Gaelic games

• Kilkenny 2–20 – 0–19 Clare.

• Armagh 1–12 – 0–14 Kerry.

  Golf

• Murphy's Irish Open was won by Søren Hansen.

  Rugby union

• Ireland lost to England and France.

• Munster and Leinster advanced from the pool stage. Leinster were defeated in the quarter-finals while Munster were defeated by Leicester in the final.

  Births

• 2 March – Armstrong Okoflex, footballer
• 4 March – Troy Parrott, footballer
• 29 August – Rhasidat Adeleke, sprinter
• 12 November– Hazel Doupe, actress

  Deaths

January to June

• 14 January – Colm Hilliard, Fianna Fáil TD.
• 16 January – Jim Tunney, former Fianna Fáil TD, Minister of State and Lord Mayor of Dublin.
• 22 February –
• * Paddy Ambrose, soccer player and coach.
• * Brendan O'Dowda, tenor singer.
• 27 February – Spike Milligan, comedian, poet and writer.
• 14 March – Kevin Danaher, folklorist and writer.
• 19 March – David Beers Quinn, historian.
• 8 May – Sylvester Barrett, former Fianna Fáil TD, Cabinet Minister and MEP.
• 30 May – John B. Keane, playwright, novelist and essayist.

  July to December

• 1 August – Brendan Menton Snr, soccer administrator and president of the Football Association of Ireland.
• 28 August – Jim McFadden, ice hockey player.
• 4 September – David Molony, lawyer, former Fine Gael TD and Seanad member.
• 16 September – David Grene, classical scholar.
• 20 September – Pat Saward, soccer player.
• 17 October – Derek Bell, harpist and composer.
• 25 October – Richard Harris, actor.
• 2 November – Brian Behan, writer and trade unionist.
• 2 December – Jim Mitchell, former Fine Gael TD and Cabinet Minister.
• 3 December – Glenn Quinn, actor.
• 18 December – Lucy Grealy, poet and memoirist.
• 24 December – Alan Clodd, book collector, dealer and publisher.

  Full date unknown

• Frances Kelly, painter.
• Owen Walsh, artist.