2012 in Northern Ireland

none thumb | right | alt=North Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 2012. | North Down, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, 2012. 2012 September 2015 September 2015 Events during the year 2012 in Northern Ireland. Incumbents First Minister - Peter Robinson Deputy First Minister - Martin McGuiness Secretary of State - Owen Paterson (until 4 September), Theresa Villiers (from 4 September) Events March 17 March – Saint Patrick's Day parade and carnival in Belfast city centre and Custom House Square.https://archive.today/20130419203312/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/a-packed-calendar-of-events-makes-belfast-the-place-to-be-in-2012-16098009.html A packed calendar of events makes Belfast the place to be in 2012 Belfast Telegraph, 2012-01-02. 31 March – Former broadcast journalist Mike Nesbitt elected leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17572015 Mike Nesbitt is new Ulster Unionist leader BBC BBC News 31 March 2012 31 March 2012 April 15 April – RMS Titanic maiden voyage centenary celebrations, including opening of £90m Titanic Belfast visitor facility.https://archive.today/20130420040758/http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/queens-visit-set-to-crown-titanic-year-as-city-comes-into-its-own-16097998.html Queen's visit set to crown Titanic year as city comes into its own Belfast Telegraph, 2012-01-02. May 3 May – Bairbre de Brún submitted her resignation to the European Parliament as MEP for Northern Ireland.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0503/sinn-feins-de-brun-steps-down-as-mep.html Sinn Féin's Bairbre de Brún steps down as MEP for 'personal reasons' RTÉ News Raidió Teilifís Éireann 3 May 2012 3 May 2012 22 May – Murder of Michaela McAreavey trial began in Mauritius.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0522/michaela-mcareavey-murder-trial-set-to-begin-today.html Michaela McAreavey murder accused to stand trial in Mauritius 22 May 2012 RTÉ News 22 May 2012 June Lord Mayor's Parade in Belfast. Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations throughout Northern Ireland. 26 June – The Queen began a two-day visit to Northern Ireland in Enniskillen.Queen begins two-day tour of Northern Ireland The Guardian, 26 June 2012. 27 June – The Queen met former IRA commander Martin McGuinness for the first time, in Belfast. They met and shook hands in private in the McGrath Suite of the Lyric Theatre. The meeting was witnessed by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Northern Ireland first minister, Peter Robinson, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina. The Queen and McGuinness shook hands once more in public for the benefit of the media. It was also the first meeting between the Queen and the recently elected president Higgins.The Queen and Martin McGuinness shake hands and make history The Guardian, 27 June 2012.Statement by President Michael D. Higgins following Cooperation Ireland event at Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, 27 June 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234636/http://www.president.ie/media-releases/statement-by-president-michael-d-higgins-following-cooperation-ireland-event-at-belfasts-lyric-theatre/ 30 December 2013 Áras an Uachtaráin, 27 June 2012. July 3 July – Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre designed by Heneghan Peng for the National Trust was opened.Heneghan Peng's Giant's Causeway scheme finally opens doors 2012-07-04 2013-07-19 Richard Waite Architects' Journal http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/heneghan-pengs-giants-causeway-scheme-finally-opens-doors/5215711.article 12 July – Marching season culminated in The Twelfth celebration of the Glorious Revolution and the Battle of the Boyne. August 16 August – Thirty antique accordions were stolen in County Down.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0816/ni-musical-instruments.html 30 antique accordions stolen in Co Down RTÉ News RTÉ 16 August 2012 16 August 2012 September 13 September – Fermanagh player Brian Óg Maguire died in an industrial accident in the Ballymaconnell Road area of Derrylin.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0913/brian-og-maguire-fermanagh.html Fermanagh footballer killed in industrial accident RTÉ News RTÉ 13 September 2012 13 September 2012 15 September – Ulster player Nevin Spence died in County Down. His father and brother also died.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19614688 Nevin Spence killed in County Down slurry accident BBC News BBC 15 September 2012 15 September 2012 October 4 October – Expelled Ulster Unionist Party member David McNarry, representing Strangford, joined the UK Independence Party, giving it its first representative in any of the devolved assemblies in Britain and Northern Ireland.Gerry Moriarty http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1004/breaking61.html Expelled UUP man joins UKIP The Irish Times Irish Times Trust 4 October 2012 4 October 2012 18 October – Marie Stopes International opened a clinic in Belfast.Marie Stopes private abortion clinic to open in Belfast https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19902778 BBC News BBC 11 October 2012 22 October 2012 23 October – Derry was named fourth in a top ten of cities to visit in 2013 by the travel guidebook Lonely Planet.Genevieve Carbery http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1023/breaking20.html Derry in Lonely Planet top list – The Irish Times – Tue, Oct 23, 2012 The Irish Times Trust The Irish Times 23 October 2012 23 October 2012 24 October – Digital television transition in the UK is completed in Northern Ireland. November 3 November – Match for Michaela at Casement Park.http://www.thescore.ie/match-for-michaela-donegal-ulster-649927-Oct2012/ Jim McGuinness names strong Donegal side to compete in Match for Michaela The Score 25 October 2012 25 October 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20150329180026/http://www.the42.ie/match-for-michaela-donegal-ulster-649927-Oct2012/ 29 March 2015 December 3 December – Trouble flared in Belfast as hundreds of hooded Loyalists burn Irish tricolours and tried to storm Belfast City Hall.Lesley-Anne McKeown http://www.independent.ie/national-news/protesters-attempt-to-storm-belfast-city-hall-after-flag-vote-3315464.html Protesters attempt to storm Belfast city hall after flag vote Irish Independent Independent News & Media 3 December 2012 3 December 2012 The arts 20 April – Belfast MAC (Metropolitan Arts Centre), designed by Hackett Hall McKnight, opened.Belfast's new arts venue the MAC prepares to open BBC News 2012-04-19 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17770503 2014-10-27 June – European Pipe Band Championships in Stormont. Glenn Patterson's novel The Mill for Grinding Old People Young was published.Patricia Craig The Mill for Grinding Old People Young, By Glenn Patterson The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-mill-for-grinding-old-people-young-by-glenn-patterson-7640230.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-mill-for-grinding-old-people-young-by-glenn-patterson-7640230.html 1 May 2022 subscription London 2012-04-13 2012-04-24 Sports January 16 January – Occupy Belfast: The Bank of Ireland was occupied in the city.http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0116/belfast.html Protesters occupy bank in Belfast RTÉ News Raidió Teilifís Éireann 16 January 2012 16 January 2012 28 January – Irish Football League Cup final – Coleraine v Crusaders.IRN-BRU League Cup final arrangements Irish Football Association, 2011.12.17. February Irish Indoor Athletics Championships in the Odyssey Arena. March 17 March – Loughgiel Shamrocks (Antrim) won the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship, defeating Coolderry GAA (Offaly) 4–13 to 0–07 in the final.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2012/0317/loughgiel_coolderry.html Loughgiel win hurling club title 17 March 2012 RTÉ Sport 17 March 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120318212314/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2012/0317/loughgiel_coolderry.html 18 March 2012 31 March – Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship, defeating Garrycastle (Westmeath) 2–19 to 1–07 in the replay after the final initially ended in a 0–15 to 1–12 draw on 17 March.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2012/0331/315708-crossmaglen-x-xx-garrycastle-x-xx/ Crossmaglen 2-19 Garrycastle 1-07 31 March 2012 RTÉ Sport 31 March 2012 May 15 May – The most supported football team in Northern Ireland, Manchester United played a testimonial match for their former goalkeeper, Harry Gregg against an Irish Premiership Select XI in front of over 14,000 Northern Irish Manchester United fans at Windsor Park in Belfast. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18080556 Manchester United beat Irish League 4-1 in Harry Gregg game BBC Sport BBC 15 May 2012 28 February 2013 19 May – Ulster Rugby contested the 2012 Heineken Cup Final, losing 42–14 to Leinster Rugby.http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2012/0519/321612-leinster-42-14-ulster/ Leinster 42-14 Ulster RTÉ Sport RTÉ 19 May 2012 24 June 2012 Belfast City Marathon. June 3 June – The Olympic Flame arrived in Belfast, with relay runners carrying it to towns, villages, and beauty spots throughout Northern Ireland. July 22 July – Donegal defeated Down 2–18 to 0–13 to win a second consecutive Ulster Senior Football Championship.http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2012/0722/330139-donegal-beat-down-to-claim-ulster-title/ Donegal 2-18 Down 0-13 RTÉ Sport RTÉ 22 July 2012 6 August 2012 August British Transplant Games in Belfast. Deaths 20 January - Lucy Faulkner, journalist, 86 22 February - Frank Carson, comedian and actor, 85 16 April - Ray Davey, minister, founded the Corrymeela Community, 97 See also 2012 in England 2012 in Scotland 2012 in Wales References Category:2012 in Europe