2000 in Northern Ireland

Events

• 11 February - The British government suspends devolution in Northern Ireland.
• 25 March - David Trimble retains leadership of the Ulster Unionist Party at its annual general meeting, following a challenge from Martin Smyth.
• 12 April - The Royal Ulster Constabulary is presented with the George Cross by The Queen.
• 6 May - The IRA begins decommissioning its weapons.
• 30 May - Devolution returns to Northern Ireland.
• 28 July - last 80 prisoners leave the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland as part of the Northern Ireland peace process.
• 16 September - New extension to the Linen Hall Library is opened.
• 21 September - William McCrea of the Democratic Unionist Party wins the South Antrim by-election from the Ulster Unionist Party.
• 11 December - President Clinton of the United States arrives in Dublin for what is his last overseas journey as President.
• 13 December - Bill Clinton meets with the political leaders of Northern Ireland.

Arts and literature

• James Fenton's poetry Thonner an Thon: an Ulster-Scots collection is published.
• Michael Longley's poetry collection The Weather in Japan is published and wins the T. S. Eliot Prize.
• 3 December - Susan Lynch receives an Irish Film and Television Academy Award for Best Leading Actress in the film Nora.

Sport

Football

• Irish League

Winners: Linfield

• Irish Cup

Winners: Glentoran 1 - 0 Portadown

Golf

• Senior British Open Championship held at Royal County Down Golf Club (winner:Christy O'Connor Jnr).

Ice Hockey

• The Belfast Giants ice hockey team was established and entered the Ice Hockey Superleague playing at the Odyssey Arena.

Deaths

• 27 April - Clifford Forsythe, the Ulster Unionist Member of Parliament for South Antrim (born 1929).
• 2 July - Joey Dunlop, motorcycle racer (born 1952).
• 9 August - Josias Cunningham, stock broker, farmer and politician (born 1934).
• 24 October - Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell, Ulster Unionist MP in the Northern Ireland House of Commons and Minister (born 1922).