5x1 - 2000

October 17, 2010

2000 features U2 getting the Freedom of Dublin, allowing Bono and The Edge to graze their sheep on St Stephen's Green. The American presidential election descended into political farce in November, when George W Bush and Al Gore fought a legal battle over a handful of votes in the state of Florida.

5x3 - 2002

October 31, 2010

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'

5x4 - 2003

November 7, 2010

2003 recalls when over 7000 athletes from 160 countries took part in the Special Olympics in Ireland It was the year that the Spire in Dublin's O'Connell Street was completed, the Famine replica ship 'Jeanie Johnston' made its maiden voyage to America, and Dubliner Rosanna Davison won the Miss World competition. An exclusive photo deal with 'Hello' magazine meant that Ireland's wedding of the year took place behind closed doors in France: Westlife's Nicky Byrne married Georgina Ahern, daughter of Bertie and Miriam. Overcrowding in Accident and Emergency departments, long waiting lists and ward closures led to crisis in Ireland's health services. Abroad, 2003 was dominated by the debate over Iraq's supposed 'weapons of mass destruction'. US and British air attacks on Iraq were followed by a land war that saw the end of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime. However, although the US declared 'mission accomplished' after only six weeks of war, armed conflict and civil strife continued to grow across Iraq. 2003 was also the year of the 'Columbia' shuttle disaster and the outbreak of SARS (Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Tyrone's Gaelic footballers brushed aside Pat Spillane's 'puke football' criticism and won their county's first senior All-Ireland title. On TV, it was the year 'You're A Star' sent Mickey Harte to represent Ireland at Eurovision with 'We've Got The World', while the ill-fated 'Cabin Fever' reality TV show hit the rocks when the boat sank off Tory Island. Playlist: The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love The Thrills - One Horse Town Coldplay - Clocks Junior Senior - Move Your Feet Mickey Harte - We've Got The World Paddy Casey - Saints And Sinners Mis-Teeq - Scandalous Will Young - Leave Right Now Jamelia - Superstar

5x5 - 2004

November 14, 2010

Reeling in the Years looks back to 2004, when Ireland's smoking ban was introduced, when Brian McFadden left Westlife for a solo career, and when over £26 million was stolen in a raid at the Northern Bank in Belfast. Trams returned to the streets of Dublin for the first time in 55 years as the LUAS opened. 'Fake tan', Botox and men's grooming products all increased in popularity: the year also saw the launch of Ireland's 'Oxegen' and 'Electric Picnic' festivals. While 'Fruit Of The Loom' announced the closure of its last two Irish factories, internet companies Google and Ebay chose Ireland for their European headquarters. At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Ireland's only victory became mired in controversy: showjumper Cian O'Connor's horse 'Waterford Crystal' tested positive and O'Connor was stripped of a gold medal. Ireland's EU Presidency saw the highlight of the 'Day Of Welcomes' on 1 May, as ten new countries joined the European Union at an accession ceremony in Dublin's Phoenix Park. Representing Europe at a G8 summit meeting, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern famously sported a yellow jacket and trousers... George Bush defeated Democrat challenger John Kerry to win a second term as US president. In Iraq, the US and its allies struggled against rising insurgency: American strategy in Iraq came under further pressure with revelations of prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. The end of 2004 was marked by the Asian 'tsunami', when an undersea earthquake triggered massive tidal waves that resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people in 13 countries. Playlist: Keane - Everybody's Changing Black Eyed Peas - Let's Get It Started Snow Patrol - Run U2 - Vertigo Anastacia - Left Outside Alone Counting Crows - Accidentally In Love Outkast - Hey Ya Natural Gas - The Langer O-Zone - Dragostea Din Tei

5x6 - 2005

November 29, 2010

2005 recalls the hits and the headlines of 2005, when Cork became the European City of Culture, Waterford welcomed the Tall Ships, the Dublin suburb of Dundrum got a new shopping centre. Abroad, it was the year of the 'Live 8' concerts and campaign, the 'Hurricane Katrina' disaster in New Orleans, the death of Pope John Paul II and the '7/7' bomb attacks in London. As the Shell to Sea campaign opposed the laying of a gas pipeline in Co. Mayo, the 'Rossport Five' protestors spent 94 days in jail. Belfast mourned the loss of its most famous sporting hero as George Best was laid to rest. 2005 also saw the launch of the Sony Playstation and the Xbox 360: Eddie Hobbs' 'Rip-Off Republic' was RTÉ's TV hit of the summer: and a photo-opportunity for Willie O'Dea backfired badly when the Minister for Defence was photographed pointing a gun at a camera. Playlist: The Caesars - Jerk It Out Katie Melua - Nine Million Bicycles U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own Moby - Lift Me Up KT Tunstall - Other Side Of The World Daniel Powter - Bad Day Stereophonics - Dakota

5x7 - 2006

2006 was the year of the 'Love Ulster' riot, when a planned loyalist march down O'Connell Street led to chaos and street fighting in Dublin city centre. Although Irish soccer manager Steve Staunton struggled in his new role, it was also a year of sporting success: Cork sprinter Derval O'Rourke won gold at the World Indoor Championships, Katie Taylor won World and European boxing titles and Bernard Dunne took the European Super bantamweight title. In rugby, Munster beat Biarritz to take the Heineken Cup and Ireland won the Triple Crown. Ireland also hosted the Ryder Cup, when Europe's golfers claimed victory over the USA. Playlist: Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars Bell X1 - Flame Gnarls Barkley - Crazy Gemma Hayes - Undercover Will Young - All Time Love Sugababes - Red Dress Pat Shortt - Jumbo Breakfast Roll

5x8 - 2007

Reeling in the Years recalls the headlines of 2007, when golfer Padraig Harrington won the British Open and Ireland's cricket team celebrated World Cup victory over Pakistan. Britain's Spice Girls got back together, as did Ireland's Boyzone. Apple launched the new iPhone in the USA, while record numbers of Irish people did their Christmas shopping in New York. Playlist: Girls Aloud - Call The Shots Razorlight - Before I Fall To Pieces Duke Special - Freewheel Timbaland feat. OneRepublic - Apologize Robyn - With Every Heartbeat Mika - Grace Kelly Fergie - Glamorous The Killers - Read My Mind The Klaxons - Golden Skans Sugababes - About You Now

5x9 - 2008

Reeling in the Years recalls the hits and headlines of 2008, when Bertie Ahern stepped down as Taoiseach and was replaced by Brian Cowen. Abroad, it was the year Barack Obama campaigned under the slogan 'Yes We Can' and was elected President of the USA. China hosted the Olympic Games with a dazzling opening ceremony: Irish boxers brought home three medals from Beijing. The song Falling Slowly from the film Once won an Oscar for Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Playlist: Alphabeat - Fascination Sam Sparro - Black And Gold Katy Perry - Hot N Cold Dustin The Turkey - Irelande Douze Pointe Coldplay - Viva La Vida The Script - Breakeven Iglu & Hartley - In This City Republic of Loose feat. Isabella Reyes-Feeney - The Steady Song Jordin Sparks - No Air Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Falling Slowly Mundy & Sharon Shannon - Galway Girl Elbow - One Day Like This

5x10 - 2009

2009 recalls a year of sporting highs and lows... It was the year that the 'Hand of Henry' denied Ireland the chance to go to the soccer World Cup Finals, as a blatant handball by Thierry Henry helped France to a 2-1 aggregate victory in a qualifying playoff. Irish rugby celebrated a first Grand Slam in sixty-one years and Leinster won the Heineken Cup for the first time. 'We're gonna be in the Hudson', an American pilot calmly informed air traffic controllers as he crash-landed an airliner onto the freezing waters of the Hudson Bay off Manhattan Island: all 155 passengers and crew were safely rescued and pilot Chesley Sullenberger became a national hero. Playlist: Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling Lisa Hannigan - Lille Westlife - What About Now Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody La Roux - Bulletproof Florence & The Machine - Cosmic Love The Coronas - Listen Dear Lady Gaga - Poker Face Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition