2002

2002 looks back at the sporting mess of Saipan. Ireland's soccer World Cup campaign was plunged into crisis after a bitter row between captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy. Roy Keane went home from the Irish training camp, and the Irish team made it to the second phase of the competition before losing a penalty shootout to Spain. In Ireland's 2002 general election campaign, Fianna Fáil's slogan was 'a lot done, more to do': the FF- PD coalition returned to power and Michael Noonan resigned as Fine Gael leader. The world of showbusiness saw two high-profile weddings: Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in Glaslough, Co. Monaghan, and Majella McLennan married Daniel O'Donnell in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal. 2002 was the year the Taliban were forced from power in Afghanistan, while Britain and the US increased the threat of war against Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein was still developing weapons of mass destruction. In RTÉ's latest reality TV series 'Popstars', Derry teenager Nadine Coyle lost her place in the music group Six for lying about her age: Six went on to top the charts with 'A Whole Lot Of Lovin' and Nadine went on to join Girls Aloud. 2002 was the 'year of the euro', as the new currency replaced the punt in Ireland. Motorists faced a new 'penalty points' system for driving offences, and a levy on plastic bags was introduced. Golfer Paul McGinley sealed Ryder Cup victory for Europe and Armagh's footballers won their county's first ever All-Ireland title. Playlist: Pink- Get This Party Started Avril Lavigne - Complicated Jerry Fish & The Mudbug Club - True Friends Elvis vs JXL - A Little Less Conversation Sugababes - Round Round Coldplay - In My Place Kylie Minogue - Love At First Sight Westlife - World Of Our Own Six - A Whole Lot Of Lovin'