Reeling in the Years

Brian Lenihan's Presidential campaign runs into trouble as a taped conversation is made public. In order to stay in power, Charles Haughey sacks Brian Lenihan. A new candidate challenges the old order. On 9 November 1990, Mary Robinson is elected President. After 1,597 days as a hostage in Beirut, Brian Keenan is reunited with his family. He travels home to Belfast. Cardinal Tomas O Fiaich dies while on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Bishop Cahal Daly becomes Primate of All Ireland. After forty-five years of division, East and West Germany are reunified. South Africa: Nelson Mandela is freed after twenty-six years in jail. 'Nighthawks' brings announcer Blaithin Keaveney to the nation. The Channel Tunnel: French and British workers join up under the sea in the latest link to Europe's transport network. Ireland gets ready for its first-ever World Cup Finals. Monday 11 June: Ireland draw 1-1 with England. A lacklustre draw with Egypt follows. Ireland v. Holland: A third drawn game puts Ireland through to the second round. Ireland v. Romania, Monday 25 June. Ireland qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals. The nation celebrates. Saturday 30 June: Ireland lose 1-0 to Italy. The World Cup is eventually won by West Germany. On 1 July, the Irish team returns to Dublin. Kuwait, 2 August 1990: Iraq invades and annexes its neighbour. Saddam Hussein defies international demands to pull his forces back out of Kuwait. Saddam takes Western hostages as 'human shields'. The United Nations imposes an economic blockade on Iraq. Arab and Western countries assemble a huge military force. The threat of war looms. The IRA uses 'proxy bombs' to attack border posts. Civilian drivers are forced to carry bombs in their cars. IRA members then detonate the bombs by remote control. A civilian driver and six soldiers are killed. Cork's hurlers beat Galway in the All- Ireland Hurling Final. Cork's footballers then complete a remarkable GAA double. Sam Magu

Ireland's High Court prevents a 14 year-old girl from travelling to Britain for an abortion.Although the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, the 'X' Case leads to bitter debate and a referendum on abortion. Unemployment reaches record levels in 1992. 290,000 people are now out of work. Cork has one of the highest unemployment rates. Britain's Labour Party looks set for general election victory. John Major defies the opinion polls. He leads the Tory Party to it's fourth successive win. Joe Hendron of the SDLP takes the West Belfast seat from Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams. Los Angeles is hit by the Rodney King 'race riots'. Four policemen accused of beating a black suspect are acquitted by an all-white jury. L.A. has two days of rioting, looting and murder. RTÉ goes on strike in 1992. Normal service is resumed after six weeks. Sean Doherty goes on 'Nighthawks'. He implicates Charles Haughey in the 1982 phone-tapping scandal. With the Progressive Democrats threatening to pull out of coalition government, Haughey resigns. Fianna Fail says goodbye to the man who has led the party for thirteen years. Albert Reynolds is the new Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader. 1992 is a difficult year for Britain's Royals. A fire destroys part of Windsor Castle. Newspaper revelations damage the Duchess of York. After eleven years of marriage, Princess Diana and Prince Charles agree to separate. The Queen dubs the year "Annus Horribilis". An American woman reveals her affair with Dr Eamonn Casey who is also the father of her 17 year-old son. Dr Casey admits giving £70,000 of diocesan funds to Annie and Peter Murphy. He flees to South America. In Florida, Ben Dunne is arrested on drugs charges. He is freed after paying a $5,000 fine. On the same day that the IRA massacres eight Protestant workmen. Northern Secretary Peter Brooke sings on the 'Late Late'. An angry reaction follows from the North. Somalia is ravaged by civil wars and famine. Gang warlo

Bill Clinton becomes the 42nd President of the USA. F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela share the Nobel Peace Prize. Despite threats from both black and white extremists, South Africa finally moves towards majority rule. Israeli and Palestinian leaders sign a peace deal. Palestinian areas are given limited self-rule. Ireland gets a new Coalition government. Fianna Fail shares power with Labour. The Dail re-elects Albert Reynolds as Taoiseach by 107 votes to 60. At the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, Co. Cork, Fionnuala Sweeney hosts 'Eurovision 1993'. Britain and Ireland go right to the final vote. Niamh Kavanagh wins with 'In Your Eyes'. Waco, Texas: a 51-day siege ends in disaster. FBI agents storm the headquarters of the Branch Davidian cult. 80 people are killed in a gunfight and a massive fire. Cult leader David Koresh is among the dead. Russia faces a constitutional crisis. Communist hardliners defy President Boris Yeltsin. Dissent turns into open revolt. Hundreds of delegates take over the parliament building. Rebel supporters occupy public buildings. The Russian military backs Boris Yeltsin and crushes the rebellion. After a day-long battle, the rebels surrender. Windsor Park, Belfast: although Northern Ireland have failed to qualify for the World Cup, they can still stop the Republic from going through. A tense 1-1 draw sends the Republic into the World Cup Finals. A new boy band makes its debut on the 'Late Late'. Gay Byrne meets 'Boyzone'. Des O'Malley resigns as Progressive Democrats leader. Mary Harney is the first Irishwoman to lead a political party. President Mary Robinson travels to West Belfast where she meets Gerry Adams. President Robinson also meets the Queen this year. A toddler is abducted from a Liverpool shopping centre. He is murdered by two young boys. Jamie Bulger was two years old. Jonathan Ball was three years old, and Tim Parry was twelve years old, when the IRA bombed Warrington town centre. The ki

1994 is the year of the O.J. Simpson's arrest. Simpson is charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ronald Goldman. The Army goes to battle in 'Braveheart' over reports of injuries during filming. Boris Yeltsin arrives at Shannon Airport. Irish officials wait in vain to greet the Russian president. Boris Yeltsin never gets off the plane. Ireland gets new drink-driving laws in 1994. Drivers have to observe lower blood-alcohol limits. Penalties include heavy fines and possible jail terms. Rural drinkers say the new laws are unfair. As As Ireland prepares for the World Cup Finals, Dublin barmen go on strike the night of the first match. Sports fans stock up for Ireland. Ireland beat Italy 1-0. Ireland v Mexico, 24 June: tempers and temperatures rise in the heat of Orlando. Mexico beat Ireland 2-1. A draw with Norway puts Ireland into the next round: Ireland v Holland on July 4. Holland win 2 - 0. Brazil are the eventual World Cup winners. Riverdance is one of the highlights of Eurovision 94, hosted by Cynthia ni Mhurchu and Gerry Ryan. Charlie McGettigan and Paul Harrington are runaway winners, giving Ireland its third victory in a row. RWANDA: ancient tribal hatreds turn into a modern genocide. After the death of Rwanda's President in an air crash, Hutu gangs launch a genocidal rampage against the Tutsi people. UN intervention is limited and ineffective. As Tutsi forces begin to win the bloody civil war, hundreds of thousands of people flee over the border into Zaire. Huge refugee camps lack food, water and medicines. Northern Ireland's sectarian killings continue. Six Catholics are among the dead in 1994. They are shot dead while watching a World Cup match in a pub. In January, Gerry Adams travels to the United States for the first time in nearly 20 years. Peace moves intensify in America, Britain and Ireland. On August 31, the IRA calls a 'complete cessation of military operations'. In October, loyalists also call a c

IRELAND v ENGLAND, 15 February 1995: England supporters riot at Lansdowne Road. The match is abandoned. Fifty people are injured. France tests its nuclear weapons in the South Pacific. Despite local opposition and worldwide condemnation, President Chirac orders the nuclear tests. Ireland's Hepatitis C scandal goes back over eighteen years. Hundreds of people have been infected by contaminated blood products. Despite repeated warnings, health officials had failed to act. There is widespread anger at the conduct of State authorities. OKLAHOMA CITY, USA: A huge bomb blast destroys a government building. 168 people die. American right-wing extremists are found to be responsible. Ireland's Catholic clergy discuss recent crises and scandals. 1995 sees a bitter referendum campaign on divorce. The Church's influence on voters is seen as crucial. As polling day nears, the result becomes too close to call. Minister Michael Noonan attacks the 'No' campaigners. In the closest-ever referendum result, Ireland votes for divorce by 50.3%. There are workers' protests and sit-ins at 'The Irish Press'. The newspaper founded by Eamon de Valera closes down. Irish Press Newspapers has debts of £19 million. Prince Charles visits Ireland in June. Taoiseach John Bruton extends a royal welcome to the Prince. Dublin and Tyrone contest the All- Ireland Football Final. It is Dublin's first victory in twelve years. In hurling, Clare score their first victory in eighty-one years. Ireland's mobile telephone boom begins in 1995. The telephone market is opened up to competition. BOSNIA: After four years of failed peace plans and strategies, Western forces take decisive action. Airstrikes follow atrocities by Croats and Bosnian Serbs. Bosnian Serbs have also used UN soldiers as 'human shields'. Bosnia's three-sided civil war finally ends. Ireland hosts its third Eurovision in a row, presented by Mary Kennedy. Kildare's Fionnuala Sherry and 'Secret Garden' win f

1996 is the year of Dublin's 'Millennium Clock'. Although it is supposed to count down to the year 2000, the clock only lasts nine months. Baile na hAbhann, Co. na Gaillimhe: tá seirbhís nua teilifíse in Eirinn. Teilifís na Gaeilge is launched, based in Connemara. British animal feed practices are blamed for 'mad cow disease'. Beef prices fall as consumer confidence is shaken. The BSE crisis dominates Ireland's EU Presidency. 24 January 1996: George Mitchell tries to move Ireland's peace process forward by outlining the principles for talks to begin. CANARY WHARF, LONDON. 9 February 1996: the IRA ends its ceasefire with a massive bomb attack. Two people die. There are elections to a Northern Forum in May. Multi-party talks start without Sinn Fein. The IRA explodes another huge bomb in Manchester city centre on a Saturday morning. In Adare, Co. Limerick, the IRA kills Detective Garda Jerry McCabe. The Stormont talks get underway. George Mitchell will chair the talks, despite some Unionist opposition. The DUP's Willie McCrea argues with the UUP's David Trimble. Orangemen are refused permission to march the Garvaghy Road. After several days of loyalist violence, the authorities change their decision. The RUC beats Garvaghy residents off the road. The march goes ahead. Three years after homosexuality is decriminalised in Ireland, two gay characters come face-to-face in 'Fair City'. Ireland gets its first-ever on-screen gay kiss. .nearly Britain's 'Spice Girls' are the most successful pop act of 1996. 'Wannabe' is one of three Number One hits for 'girl power'. In the US elections, Bob Dole's Presidential hopes take a tumble. Bill Clinton is re-elected. NAAS ROAD, DUBLIN: 25 June 1996: Journalist Veronica Guerin is murdered in her car. A crackdown on organised crime follows. A TV documentary reveals stories of abuse at an industrial school. The Goldenbridge allegations focus more criticism on the Catholic Church, in a year marked by

A new national radio station goes on the air. Radio Ireland is launched on St. Patrick's Day. Hong Kong returns to Chinese rule in 1997. Britain's 99-year lease on the colony expires. Ireland gets a change of government this year. Fianna Fail and the PDs replace the Rainbow Coalition. They rely on the support of Independents. After eighteen years in power, Britain's Tories suffer a crushing election defeat. 'New Labour' wins by the biggest margin this century. English nanny Louise Woodward is convicted of murdering an eight-month-old baby. The judge reviews the jury's decision. The verdict is changed and the sentence reduced. 1997 sees a crisis in Ireland's immigration system. Asylum-seekers and refugees arrive in record numbers. After the failure of huge 'pyramid investment' schemes, Albania collapses into anarchy. Desperate Albanians flee their country. Ireland hosts the Eurovision - again. Katrina and the Waves win for Britain with their song 'Love Shine A Light'. PARIS 31 August 1997: Britain's Princess Diana is killed in a car crash. Her companion Dodi al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul also die.. Diana's death is followed by exceptional scenes of public grief. 1997 also sees the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. PORTADOWN: The RUC and British Army seal off the Garvaghy Road so that Orangemen can march through. There is widespread rioting in nationalist areas. As peace efforts intensify, the IRA calls a new ceasefire on 20 July. Sinn Fein joins multi-party talks in Stormont. Ulster Unionists refuse to deal directly with Sinn Fein. After announcing that she will not run again for President, Mary Robinson becomes UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Spice Girls are 1997's biggest pop act. 'Girl power' also comes to Ireland. Clare beat Tipperary in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. Mayo's second All-Ireland Football Final in a row only brings victory for Kerry. At Wicklow's Glen of the Downs, 'Eco-warriors' protest agains

Ian Paisley visits Dublin in 1991. He protests against Northern Secretary Peter Brooke's decision to resume the meeting of the Anglo- Irish Conference and to end discussions between Northern parties. 1991 sees an unusual Fine Gael Ard Fheis. Twink makes a show out of Fine Gael. Ireland v. Australia in the World Cup Quarter-Final. Ireland's late try offers hope of a remarkable victory, but Australia win by one point. IRAQ, 16 January 1991: A US-led military force of thirty countries launches Operation 'Desert Storm'. Laser-guided 'smart' bombs hit Iraqi military targets. In Baghdad, an Allied 'smart' bomb hits a bunker which has been used as a civilian air raid shelter. Hundreds of women and children are killed. Fears grow that Iraq will use chemical weapons as retaliation. The 'Patriot' missile defence system is deployed. Iraqi 'Scud' missiles still hit Israeli and Saudi cities. On 24 February 1991, the land war begins. The Allied coalition wins a decisive victory. On February 28, Kuwait City is liberated. As the war ends, an estimated 50,000 people have died and Kuwait's oil fires are out of control. An ecological disaster threatens the Gulf. Maastricht, The Netherlands: European leaders sign an historic agreement. It sets 1999 as the deadline for a single currency. Corruption allegations are made against Larry Goodman's beef company. Although the company vigorously denies the charges, a Tribunal of Inquiry is set up to investigate the claims. The former State company 'Greencore' is hit by scandal. A complex financial arrangement allowed a group of managers to profit from the use of public money. More questions are asked about the sale of Carysfort College when the Taoiseach's involvement in the deal is revealed. Telecom Eireann's controversial purchase of a site in Ballsbridge leads to high-profile resignations. After the Taoiseach, Charles Haughey , says certain people 'should step aside' , Dermot Desmond resigns as chairman of

Ireland gets a new TV station in 1998. TV3 opens for business in September. The National Irish Bank is hit by scandal. Following an investigation by RTE journalists, the NIB admits to improperly taking customers' money. Car-clamping starts in Dublin this year. Ireland's economy booms in 1998. Unemployment falls rapidly as economic growth reaches 11%. Inward investment rises to record levels, as companies like Dell in Limerick expand their operations. In Glenroe, Miley wrestles with Fidelma and then with his conscience. 1998 is a difficult year for Bill Clinton. Allegations of an affair with a White House intern lead to the biggest scandal of his career. Eighteen hours after the talks deadline, negotiating parties reach agreement at Stormont. After years of failed political initiatives, history is made on Good Friday 1998. The Agreement will be put to a North/South poll. Unionists are deeply divided on the issues. 94% of voters in the Republic back the Agreement. In the North, there is 71% support. Former dictator Augusto Pinochet is arrested in London. Spanish judges attempt to extradite the Chilean from Britain to face charges of torture and murder. England play Argentina at the World Cup Finals in France. After David Beckham is sent off, the match ends in a penalty shoot-out. France play Brazil in the Final. The host nation celebrates its first-ever World Cup. DRUMCREE: Orangemen are refused permission to march the Garvaghy Road. Several days of loyalist violence result in tragedy. Three young boys die in a sectarian arson attack. Thousands of Gardai get sick for better pay in the 'blue flu' protest. The Tour de France comes to Ireland in July. Despite revelations of drug-taking by cyclists, the event attracts big crowds throughout the country. Irish swimmer Michelle de Bruin also fights drugs allegations. She is banned from international competition for four years. Ireland's young soccer players are the heroes of the year

500,000 people buy Telecom Eireann shares in July. The sun disappears across most of Europe during a solar eclipse in August. At MTV Europe's Music Awards in November, the stars come out at the Point Depot. Controversy follows the early release of Philip Sheedy. Two judges are criticised for their handling of the case. Hugh O'Flaherty resigns, along with Cyril Kelly. Terry Keane appears on the 'Late Late' in May. She reveals her affair with Charles Haughey. It is another frustrating year for Irish soccer. In a two-match play-off to decide qualification for next year's European Finals, Ireland draw 1-1 at home to Turkey and 0-0 away. Turkey go through on the 'away goal' rule. The West finally confronts Slobodan Milosevic over Serb aggression in the province of Kosovo. Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians flee Kosovo... ...as NATO launches airstrikes against Yugoslav targets. Milosevic's forces withdraw in June. Pristina celebrates the end of the war. The North gets devolution, despite worries over decommissioning. A new British-Irish Agreement is signed. The Northern Executive is established. Articles Two and Three of the Constitution are changed. Cork bids farewell to former Taoiseach Jack Lynch. The revelations continue at Ireland's Tribunals of Inquiry. James Gogarty is the star witness at the Flood Tribunal. There are wide-ranging accusations and denials of money being handed over for planning favours. After he is stopped at Dublin Airport with £200,000, serious questions are also asked of official George Redmond. 1999 is also the year of the 'Ansbacher' revelations. A secret list of 120 account-holders' names is contained in Tanaiste Mary Harney's report. Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy gets into trouble. His Budget angers single-income couples, low-paid workers, and the Opposition. East Timor: There is a massive vote for independence from Indonesia. Pro-Indonesian militias terrorise the country. The UN pulls out, a