1999 in Ireland - Events

Events

• 4 January – The Euro makes its debut on European financial markets.
• 13 January – Derek Hill becomes the eleventh honorary citizen of Ireland.
• 5 February – New legislation changes the name of the RSI No to the Personal Public Service Number and expands its use.
• 31 March – The Irish Land Commission is dissolved.
• 27 April – States of Fear television series made by Mary Raftery for RTÉ begins broadcasting. Its revelations of a history of institutional child abuse lead to questions being raised in the Dáil and an apology to victims from the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and appointment of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in May.
• 21 May – Gay Byrne hosts his last Late Late Show after 37 years.
• 22 May – The electorate of the entire island of Ireland go to the polls to vote on the Good Friday Agreement.
• 23 May – People North and South give their overwhelming support to the Good Friday Agreement.
• 17 June - UEFA punishes the Football Association of Ireland with a fine of £25,000.
• 11 August – Ireland joins the world and watches the last solar eclipse of the millennium.
• 28 August – 80,000 fans see the Robbie Williams concert at Slane Castle, County Meath.
• 12 October – Peter Mandelson arrives in Belfast as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
• 20 October – President McAleese leads tributes to the former Taoiseach Jack Lynch who died aged 82.
• November – Remaining prohibition orders made under the Censorship of Publications Acts relating to contraception or termination of pregnancy are lifted.
• 29 November – Ten designated ministers are appointed to the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly.
• 2 December
  • The Irish Government ratifies changes to Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. Direct rule from Westminster in Northern Ireland ends.
  • Foras na Gaeilge is established as an agency of The North/South Language Body under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement to promote the Irish language throughout the island of Ireland, assuming the roles of Bord na Gaeilge, An Gúm and An Coiste Téarmaíochta, previously state bodies of the Government of Ireland.
• 13 December – The first meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council takes place in Armagh.
• 31 December – The last sunset of the millennium occurs at 4.41 pm at Dursey Head in west Cork.
• Inez McCormack of UNISON becomes the first woman President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.