June 30 - Ireland is congratulated on its presidency of the European Commission. FrenchPresidentJacques Chirac says it is the best presidency ever. Also this day the operations on the Luas "Green Line" commence.
November 1 - The International Equestrian Federation confirms that part of the B sample of Waterford Crystal , the horse ridden by Olympic gold medallist Cian O'Connor, has been stolen in England.
November 9 - Banned substances were confirmed in the B blood sample of Waterford Crystal , the horse ridden by Olympic showjumping gold medallist Cian O'Connor.
December 8 - Negotiated proposals to restore the power-sharing institutions to Northern Ireland by March fail to reach finality. The main sticking point was a refusal by the IRA to allow photographs be taken of arms decommissioning and a refusal by the DUP's Ian Paisley to witness disarmament himself.
December 16 - In Bogotá, Colombia the Penal Chamber of Bogotá's Supreme Tribunal hands down lengthy jail sentences to Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan for training Marxist rebels in Colombia.
December 18 - The 'Columbia Three', Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan, are said to have fled the region where they were convicted of terrorist activities.
Local Elections, 2004 - Fianna Fáil's share of the vote falls sharply while all the other opposition parties make gains. Sinn Féin make a huge breakthrough with a record number of councillors being elected.
