2003. The year in which we faced a roller-coaster of political expectations and frustrations, additional serious job losses in the North West, a war in Iraq that is still claiming casualties almost daily, the best summer weather for many a year, Tyrone (not Donegal or Armagh) bringing Sam Maguire north, a quiet Drumcree, Assembly Elections, the Rugby World Cup, and a host of other headlines besides.
"Beyond the mystery of the Christian Story of Christmas there are serious questions it poses for today’s society. Behind the joy of the birth of the Prince of Peace there are moral issues and moral questions society cannot ignore if we honestly believe Christ was the real Prince of Peace. Those questions are about fairness, justice, inequality and how we exercise power. They are about how we live our lives beyond Christmas Day – how we seek to influence society throughout the year with the spirit of Christmas.
Archbishop of Armagh,
Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan