2003

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.