The Noughties

are just about over. So many things have happened in the last 10 years but these is what stands out most for me.

Most memorable/significant news events of the 00s -

The twin towers falling - 9/11. I was quite young when this happened, must have been about 9, but I remember seeing the reports on the news that evening. I can clearly remember seeing images of people in the World Trade Centre waving for help from the windows - this seriously scared and upset me and my dad had to spend much of the evening persuading me that the man at the window probably got rescued.

London Bombings, July 2005 This happened in the height of summer in my last year at Primary school - it may have actually happened on the last day of term, if not very close to it. I got in from school at about 4.15 and saw the news on the TV. My brother simply said to me as I entered the room "London's been bombed". We were worried for my uncle who works in London but luckily he was ok.

British and American troops entering Iraq I was pretty young at this point also, but remember Iraq being mention in the news for months leading up to this, to the point where for a young boy it got extremely boring. I clearly remember sitting on the carpet in front of the TV watching the 6 o'clock news showing tanks going into Iraq. I can also remember I was mucking around with a rubber popping toy thing that had come free in the Rice Krispies box whilst I watched.

The death of Michael Jackson I literally heard the news of this breaking live and was probably pretty much the first to find out amongst the people I know. I always have BBC Radio 5 Live on at night whilst I am going to sleep so this is where I heard it first. Texted a few people who I knew would be interested and they thought I was joking. I wasn't, obviously. MJ's death caused a huge fuss and his music was heard constantly for weeks afterwards.

The Asian tsunami I remember this event well mainly because one of my year6 friends was actually in Thailand at the time. I also remember being strangely enthralled by the tale of a man who had escaped the wave by surfing on it.

Significant/memorable sporting events of the 00s -

The Olympics, Sydney 2000 I remember this simply because, at the age of 7, it was my introduction to the Olympic games. There was success for Steve Redgrave in the rowing and the GB team also had a great lad in the canoeing that I've forgotten the name of.

England 5 Germany 1, 2001 Sorry! This is where the influence of being born and bred in England and having lots of English blood comes in. I didn't actually watch this famous match because we were in the car park at the Channel Ferry in Calais at the time. We were close enough to England to pick up the BBC commentary so naturally all the cars heading back to Dover had it on. It was all very exciting as every time England scored the car park went mad with cheering and honking horns - much of which were directed at the one car in the corner with a German registration! David Beckham's free kick against Greece to send England to the 2002 world cup is also fresh in my memory - but not as much as Teddy Sheringham's goal in the same game - he scored a header with his first touch of the ball after being subbed on.

Ronan O'Gara's cheeky try against South Africa This was really good. ROG took a quick tap as a penalty and ran through a "not ready" Springbok team to score one of my favourite ever tries.

Ireland 43 England 13 This match was just magic, nothing else to say. It gave me brilliant bragging rights for ages afterwards.

Rep. of Ireland at the Korea/Japan world cup 2002 We crossed out Roy Keane's face on the wall chart with a black marker pen. Robbie Keane's injury time goal to get a draw with the Germany and the heart breaking exit to Spain on penalties - gutted. I even wrote a letter to FIFA complaining that penalties were unfair and matches should be decided on a coin toss!!

Liverpool winning the Champions League 2005 I was one of two Liverpool fans in my primary school class at this time and the whole campaign was magic. Luis Garcia's wonder goal against Juventus was reenacted time after time with a tennis ball in the playground and the final is the greatest football match I have ever seen.

Watching Tipperary beat Limerick in Hiedelberg 2009 This was brilliant, wearing the blue and gold around the city for the day then heading to O'Rielly's pub to watch it. Was joined by a very nice family from Limerick and the Man United fans got p*ssed of because the sound system was given over to The Sunday Game rather than Sky's premier league coverage.

An organised playground soccer match at primary school: The Year 3s (captained by me) vs. The Year 6s. We won 1-0. There was absolute mayhem when the bell went to signal full time - don't think any boy in our class did any work for the rest of the day. The demanded a rematch in the summer when we were allowed on the playing field. We agreed. And beat them again 1-0. They missed a penalty.

The one thing I only care about...

September 22nd 2002 - All Ireland final - Armagh vs Kerry: Obviously I remember it but I can remember the exact words my brother said to my mum towards the end "Mum its weird isnt it, grandad and all our other uncles who have died never got to see Armagh win the All Ireland, and I remember my mum had a tear run down her face. Dont know if it was because they had finally won it, or if it was because what my brother said to her.

I'm going to use the word COLLAPSE here.

The domination enjoyed by the Catholic church.
Bear Stearnes/Lehman Brothers/The banking system in general.
And of course "De Duds" (When push came to shove)......