September 15 – For the first time the All-Ireland Football Final is contested by two teams from the same province. Tyrone are victorious over Armagh in the first All-Ulster Final.
November 27 – The people of Northern Ireland go to the polls. The Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin make massive gains at the expense of more moderate unionist and nationalist parties.
The League of Ireland moves from a predominatly winter season to a Scandinavian style summer season. Bohemians win the transitional 2002/03 season and Shelbourne win the 2003 championship.