Reeling in the Years Episode Rating Graph

Reeling in the Years highlights key events of 2005, including Cork becoming the European City of Culture, Waterford hosting the Tall Ships, and Dundrum’s new shopping centre. Internationally, it marked the Live 8 concerts, Hurricane Katrina, the death of Pope John Paul II, and the 7/7 London bombings. Domestically, the Shell to Sea campaign opposed a gas pipeline in Co. Mayo, with the 'Rossport Five' jailed for 94 days. Belfast mourned George Best, while the Sony Playstation and Xbox 360 launched. Eddie Hobbs’ Rip-Off Republic was a TV hit, and a photo of Minister Willie O'Dea backfired after he was pictured pointing a gun at a camera.

In 2004, Ireland saw significant events such as the introduction of a smoking ban, Brian McFadden leaving Westlife, and a £26 million raid at the Northern Bank. Trams returned to Dublin with the LUAS, while fake tan, botox, and men's grooming grew in popularity. The launch of Ireland's Oxegen and Electric Picnic festivals marked cultural milestones. Google and eBay chose Ireland for their European headquarters. At the Athens Olympics, Ireland's only medal was marred by controversy after Cian O'Connor's horse tested positive. Ireland's EU Presidency saw ten countries join the EU, and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended a G8 summit. Globally, George Bush won a second term, the US struggled in Iraq, and the Asian tsunami devastated 13 countries.

In 2003, over 7,000 athletes from 160 countries participated in the Special Olympics in Ireland. Dublin's Spire was completed, and the Jeanie Johnston ship made its maiden voyage. Rosanna Davison won Miss World, and Westlife's Nicky Byrne married Georgina Ahern in a private ceremony in France. Ireland's health services faced a crisis with overcrowded A&E departments and long waiting lists. Globally, the Iraq War dominated, followed by civil unrest, and the Columbia shuttle disaster occurred. The year also saw the outbreak of SARS. Tyrone's Gaelic football team won their first senior All-Ireland title, and on TV, Mickey Harte represented Ireland at Eurovision, while the Cabin Fever reality show failed when its boat sank.

In 2002, Ireland's World Cup campaign was marred by a dispute between captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy, leading to Keane’s departure from the camp. Despite this, Ireland reached the second phase before losing to Spain in a penalty shootout. Fianna Fáil returned to power in Ireland’s general election. In entertainment, Paul McCartney married Heather Mills, and Daniel O'Donnell married Majella McLennan. The Taliban were ousted from Afghanistan, and tensions rose over Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. In pop culture, Nadine Coyle was dropped from Six for lying about her age but later joined Girls Aloud. The Euro replaced the punt in Ireland, new driving penalties were introduced, and plastic bag levies were imposed. Golfer Paul McGinley helped Europe win the Ryder Cup, and Armagh won its first All-Ireland football title.

2001 was marked by the September 11 attacks, where over 3,000 people died when al-Qaeda hijacked four planes, hitting New York’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. In Ireland, large crowds attended religious ceremonies for Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. The 'Bertie Bowl' controversy arose over plans for a new sports campus, and Bertie Ahern appeared on RTÉ's The Premiership. Irish soccer fans celebrated World Cup qualification, and the TV show Bachelors Walk debuted. The first Harry Potter film was released, and Jeremy Irons restored a medieval castle in West Cork. The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease affected both Ireland and Northern Ireland. Tanaiste Mary Harney married, the SSIA savings scheme launched, and Ellen MacArthur set solo sailing records. Sectarian violence continued in Belfast, and tragedy struck when eight Turkish migrants died in a freight container in Wexford.

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.

A look back at 1968 when the Ballymun development was completed, Apollo 8 orbited the moon, and the Beatles released Yellow Submarine. Music: The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup Cliff Richard - Congratulations Pat McGeegan - Chance of a Lifetime Massiel - La, La, La The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin Bob Dylan - Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - I Second That Emotion The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil Marvin Gaye - I Heard It through the Grapevine Joe Dolan - You're Such a Good Looking Woman

A look back to 1967 when Elvis got hitched, Mick Jagger was caught for drug offences, and the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, Syria and Jordan was fought. Music: Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl The Dubliners -Seven Drunken Nights The Monkees - I'm a Believer The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hey Joe Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower Simon and Garfunkel - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me The Rolling Stones - Ruby Tuesday Seán Dunphy - If I Could Choose Sandie Shaw - Puppet on a String

This week, a look at 1966. England won the World Cup, Indira Gandhi became prime minister of India, and Eamon de Valera was president of Ireland for a second term. Music: The Rolling Stones - Get off of My Cloud Tom Jones - Green Green Grass of Home Dickie Rock - Come Back to Stay The Who - My Generation Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' Fontella Bass - Rescue Me The Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love Chris Farlowe - Out of Time

In 1978, Ireland's offshore exploration continues with £100m spent on oil search and Kinsale gas becoming commercially available. The US brokers a peace deal between Israel and Egypt, but Lebanon remains a conflict hotspot, leading to Irish peacekeepers being deployed. Protests erupt over plans to build offices at Dublin's Viking settlement, but the construction proceeds. The year sees the death of Pope Paul VI, followed by Pope John Paul I, and the election of Pope John Paul II. The IRA commits the horrific La Mon Hotel bombing. In sports, Kerry defeats Dublin in the All-Ireland football final, while Cork wins hurling. Anti-nuclear protests stop a proposed power station at Carnsore Point. Environmental concerns arise in County Cork over asbestos dumping. Pirate radio stations grow in popularity, leading to calls for legalization, as RTE launches its second TV channel, RTE 2.

The 'Brendan Voyage' ends in Newfoundland after a 4,000-mile journey across the Atlantic, retracing the path of sixth-century Irish monks. Queen Elizabeth celebrates 25 years on the British throne and visits Northern Ireland, where protests occur. Punk rock surges in popularity, with the Sex Pistols releasing 'God Save The Queen.' Ireland's 'Hot Press' magazine launches, targeting the youth market. In Dublin, a 12-hour armed siege at a store ends with a surrender. Fine Gael addresses rising crime with tougher laws. An industrial dispute at Shannonbridge ESB causes power cuts for a week. Dublin wins the All-Ireland Football Final and Cork claims the Hurling title. The Ferenka plant in Limerick shuts down, costing 1,400 jobs. A deadly jet collision in Tenerife kills 574 people. Fianna Fail wins a landslide victory in the general election, and the Boomtown Rats score their first Top Ten hit. Steve Biko dies in police custody, and a loyalist strike in Northern Ireland fails.

In 1976, the £5 note design changed, featuring poet John Scotus Erigena instead of Lady Hazel Lavery. Violent riots in Soweto lead to open revolt and hundreds of deaths as South African security forces are instructed to restore order. In Rhodesia, Prime Minister Ian Smith agrees to a plan to end white minority rule. Ireland's Cabinet Minister Paddy Donegan sparks a crisis after criticizing President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, who resigns. Patrick Hillery is elected President. Harold Wilson resigns as UK Prime Minister, succeeded by James Callaghan. Ireland faces a severe recession, with Finance Minister Richie Ryan introducing strict measures. The year also sees a bank strike, Abba topping charts, and Nadia Comaneci winning three Olympic golds. Jimmy Carter is elected U.S. President, while tensions in Northern Ireland escalate with IRA violence. In sports, Cork wins the All-Ireland Hurling Final, and Dublin defeats Kerry in the Football Final.

On 15 February 1995, England supporters riot at Lansdowne Road during a match against Ireland, causing the game to be abandoned and injuring 50 people. France conducts nuclear tests in the South Pacific, facing local and global opposition. Ireland's Hepatitis C scandal, caused by contaminated blood products, spans over 18 years, with anger over health officials' failure to act. In Oklahoma City, a bomb blast kills 168, carried out by right-wing extremists. Ireland's referendum on divorce sees a narrow win for "Yes." Workers protest the closure of the Irish Press due to debts. Prince Charles visits Ireland, and Dublin wins its first All-Ireland Football Final in 12 years. Bosnia's civil war ends with Western intervention. Ireland hosts Eurovision for the third year. In December, O.J. Simpson awaits his verdict, and Ireland bids farewell to Jack Charlton after a disappointing Euro 1996 campaign.

A dip into the news and music archives from 2013, when the horsemeat scandal rocked Europe, Northern Ireland hosted the G8 summit of world leaders, Ireland's women's rugby union team won the Grand Slam and Wicklow singer-songwriter Hozier released Take Me to Church.

Reeling in the Years looks back to the stories and the soundtrack of 2017 when Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. When Enda Kenny stepped down after six years in office, Leo Varadkar beat Simon Coveney in the contest to become Taoiseach and as leader of Fine Gael.

Reeling in the Years recalls the hits and the headlines of 2019, when Shane Lowry won the British Open golf tournament at Royal Portrush in Co. Antrim. The Open champion returned home in triumph to Clara, Co. Offaly. US vice-president Mike Pence came to Ireland this year, tracing his family connections in Sligo and in Doonbeg, Co. Clare.

In 1991, Ian Paisley protested in Dublin against Northern Secretary Peter Brooke's decision to resume the Anglo-Irish Conference. In the World Cup, Ireland’s close loss to Australia in the quarter-finals captured attention. The Gulf War began with Operation Desert Storm, but a tragic incident occurred when a smart bomb hit a civilian shelter in Baghdad, killing hundreds. The war led to 50,000 deaths and ecological damage from oil fires. In Europe, the Maastricht Treaty set 1999 for a single currency. Corruption scandals hit Irish companies like Greencore and Telecom Eireann. In March, the Birmingham Six were freed after wrongful convictions. Meanwhile, economic challenges led many Irish citizens to emigrate. The Yugoslav conflict worsened, and in the USSR, hardline Communists attempted a coup, only to be defeated by Boris Yeltsin. In sports, Meath lost to Down in the All-Ireland Final, and Fianna Fáil saw a leadership contest with Albert Reynolds challenging Charles Haughey.

In 1979, Vietnamese "boat people" flee poverty and persecution, with Ireland accepting refugees through a resettlement program. Iran becomes an Islamic republic after the Shah is ousted, and U.S. hostages are taken at the embassy. Pope John Paul II visits Ireland, drawing over a million people to a Mass in Dublin. Ireland faces the worst year for industrial disputes, with army intervention during a nationwide bus strike and a four-month postal strike. PAYE workers protest the tax system. Industrial disputes cost over 1.46 million working days. Lord Mountbatten is killed by an IRA bomb, and 18 British soldiers die in a separate bombing. In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge regime’s atrocities are exposed. Kilkenny and Kerry win the 1979 All-Ireland hurling and football titles, respectively. Fianna Fáil leader Jack Lynch resigns, and Charles Haughey becomes Taoiseach. Margaret Thatcher is elected UK Prime Minister.

Factory closures and job losses, including Ranks and Dunlops in Cork, contribute to a gloomy public mood. The new government exposes Fianna Fáil’s phone-tapping scandal, leading to resignations, though Charles Haughey remains leader. Champion racehorse Shergar is kidnapped and never found. Businessman Don Tidey is rescued after a shootout kills a soldier and Garda officer. RTÉ airs Glenroe. Eamonn Coghlan wins the 5000m at the World Athletics Championships. The US supports Contra rebels in Nicaragua and invades Grenada. A divisive abortion amendment passes. Divorce reform efforts begin. Reagan announces ‘Star Wars’ missile defence. Nuclear disarmament protests grow. Dublin defeats Galway in the All-Ireland Football Final.

Statue movement reports in Asdee and Ballinspittle spark debate—miracle or illusion? Ireland wins the 1985 Triple Crown. An Air India 747 crashes into the Atlantic, killing 329 in a suspected terrorist attack. At Heysel Stadium, a riot leads to dozens of soccer fans being crushed to death. Divorce referendum is delayed. Gorbachev introduces 'glasnost' in the USSR. Despite 'Star Wars' plans, US-Soviet relations improve. Barry McGuigan wins the World Featherweight title. Live Aid raises massive funds, with Ireland the highest per capita donor. The Progressive Democrats form a new political party. French agents bomb a Greenpeace ship in New Zealand. The Anglo-Irish Agreement gives the Republic a role in Northern affairs, sparking Unionist outrage. Spike Island prison is wrecked in a riot. 20,000 teachers rally for pay increases. Dublin street traders protest against a trading clampdown.

A 70ft Gulliver washes up in Dublin for the city's Millennium celebrations. Ireland hosts Eurovision; Switzerland wins with Celine Dion. The British government decides not to prosecute RUC officers after the Stalker-Sampson inquiry. The Court of Appeal rejects the Birmingham Six’s plea, while Sinn Féin and the SDLP begin talks. The Palestinian intifada erupts, met with an Israeli crackdown. In Gibraltar, the SAS kills three unarmed IRA members, sparking claims of a 'shoot to kill' policy. Loyalist and IRA violence follow at funerals. Ireland shines at Euro 1988 but falls to Holland. Budget cuts impact health; a tax amnesty raises £500m. France frees hostages in Beirut, but Briton John McCarthy and Belfast’s Brian Keenan remain captive. Gorbachev advances reforms; the US and USSR sign a nuclear treaty. Seoul hosts the Olympics; Ben Johnson is disgraced. Martin Cahill faces scrutiny. The Iran-Iraq war ends. A bomb destroys Pan Am Flight over Lockerbie, killing 270.

Ireland experiences its worst winter in 50 years. A controversial Budget leads to the collapse of the Fine Gael–Labour government, triggering an election. Charles Haughey survives a leadership challenge and becomes Taoiseach. Independent TD Tony Gregory secures a £90m deal for Dublin’s inner city. Poland remains under martial law, banning ‘Solidarity,’ though Lech Walesa is freed. Ireland wins the Triple Crown after 33 years. Argentina invades the Falklands, sparking a British military response; 255 Britons and 652 Argentinians die. Belfast’s DeLorean plant shuts down, costing 1,500 jobs. The IRA bombs London, killing eight. Two brutal murders lead to Malcolm MacArthur’s arrest at the Attorney General’s home, forcing the AG’s resignation. Fianna Fáil debates Haughey’s leadership; he wins an open vote. In November, the government loses a confidence vote, prompting Ireland’s third election in 18 months. Fine Gael and Labour return to power.

In 1981, Ronald Reagan is sworn in as U.S. President, sparking celebrations in his ancestral Ballyporeen, Ireland. A fire at Dublin’s Stardust Club kills 44. Protests fail to stop the IRFU’s controversial rugby tour of South Africa. Ireland hosts Eurovision, with Sheeba representing and Buck’s Fizz winning. Republican prisoners, led by Bobby Sands, go on hunger strike for political status. Sands is elected MP but dies, triggering mass protests. An Aer Lingus jet is hijacked over the Third Secret of Fatima. A turbulent general election sees Garret Fitzgerald form a short-lived coalition. Prince Charles weds Lady Diana. Riots erupt over the hunger strikes, and Kieran Doherty, a newly elected TD, dies. The strike ends after ten deaths, with prisoners’ demands later met. 1981 also sees assassination attempts on Reagan and the Pope, while Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is killed.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit Ireland amid protests against US policy. The Colin McStay Appeal surpasses its £100,000 goal, funding his successful surgery in the US. British miners strike against pit closures. The New Ireland Forum report fails to impress the UK Prime Minister. Nicky Kelly is freed on humanitarian grounds, though many see it as a miscarriage of justice. Heroin devastates Dublin’s inner-city. Niall Quinn joins Arsenal. Despite a Communist boycott, the 1984 Olympics proceed, with John Treacy winning silver. MTV arrives in Ireland. PW Botha becomes South Africa’s President, but black citizens remain disenfranchised. A Dunnes Stores worker sparks an anti-apartheid strike. The Bhopal disaster kills 2,000+. Indira Gandhi is assassinated. An Irish priest is imprisoned in the Philippines but later released. The IRA bombs a Tory conference hotel. Charles Mitchel retires. Ethiopia faces famine, and a BBC report inspires Bob Geldof to act.