2000

In 2000, Sonia O'Sullivan won silver in the 5000m at the Sydney Olympics, while Brian O'Driscoll emerged as a rugby star with three tries in a 27-25 victory over France. The U.S. presidential election became a legal battle between George W. Bush and Al Gore over Florida votes. In Abbeylara, Co. Longford, an armed siege ended with Gardaí shooting John Carthy. The year also saw the Concorde crash and the 'Kursk' submarine disaster. In Ireland, angry Eircom shareholders, Frank Dunlop's revelations at the Flood Tribunal, and a taxi strike made headlines. Ireland's economy boomed, creating 100,000 jobs, and Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy introduced record tax cuts. TV saw Gay Byrne host Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, and Anna Nolan was in Big Brother. Westlife matched The Beatles' record of consecutive UK Number One hits, and U2 received the Freedom of Dublin.