2018 in Northern Ireland
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Events during the year 2018 in Northern Ireland.
Incumbents
- First Minister – Vacant
- deputy First Minister – Vacant
- Secretary of State for Northern Ireland – James Brokenshire (until 8 January), Karen Bradley (from 8 January)
Events
- 8 January – Sinn Féin MP Barry McElduff was suspended from all party activity for three months after he posted a video online that relatives of the victims of the 1976 Kingsmill massacre described as callous and offensive. He resigned as an MP a week later.[https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0108/931701-barry-mcelduff-video/ Sinn Féin MP suspended for three months over Kingsmill video], RTÉ News, 2018-01-08.
- 15 January – Resignation of Sinn Féin MP, Barry McElduff, which will result in a by-election for West Tyrone{{cite web|title=Sinn Féin MP McElduff resigns over tweet|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-42688698|website=BBC News|accessdate=8 February 2018|date=2018}} on 3 May; the seat is retained by Sinn Féin.
- 10 October – In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the U.K. rules the Christian owners of Ashers Baking Co. were not obliged by law to make a cake featuring the words "Support Gay Marriage".{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-11/christian-gay-cake-bakery-has-supreme-court-win/10363112|title=Christian 'gay cake' bakery wins in UK Supreme Court|date=10 October 2018 |website=www.abc.net.au |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016110229/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-11/christian-gay-cake-bakery-has-supreme-court-win/10363112 |archive-date=16 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-45789759 |title=Ashers 'gay cake' row: Bakers win Supreme Court appeal |date=10 October 2018 |website=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181010095117/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-45789759 |archive-date=10 October 2018}}
The arts
- 4 January – Sitcom Derry Girls, set in the 1990s, premieres on Channel 4 television.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/derry-girls-could-become-tv-hit-if-viewers-can-understand-them-36423218.html|title=Derry Girls could become TV hit – if viewers can understand them|last=Little|first=Ivan|date=2017-12-20|work=Belfast Telegraph|accessdate=2017-12-23}}
- 4 April – The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards take place at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.{{cite web|title=Folk awards go to Belfast for first time|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42981221|website=BBC News|accessdate=8 February 2018|date=7 February 2018}}
- May – Anna Burns' novel Milkman, set in a fictionalised Belfast during The Troubles, is published; on 16 October it is awarded the Man Booker Prize, making the author its first winner from Northern Ireland.{{cite web|title=Man Booker Prize: Anna Burns becomes first winner from Northern Ireland|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45881852|website=BBC News|accessdate=16 October 2018|date=17 October 2018}}
Sports
{{Expand section|date=January 2018}}
Deaths
- 3 March – Arthur Stewart, footballer (Glentoran, Derby County, Detroit Cougars) (b. 1958){{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/former-northern-ireland-international-arthur-stewart-dies-aged-76-36665923.html|title=Former Northern Ireland international Arthur Stewart dies aged 76|work=Belfast Telegraph}}
- 7 July – William Dunlop, motorcycle racer, collision during practice (b. 1985){{cite news|title=William Dunlop killed in crash at Skerries 100 road races|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/northern-ireland/44754057|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=2018-07-07}}
- 10 July – John Laird, Baron Laird, Unionist politician (b. 1944){{cite news|title=Tributes to flamboyant unionist peer Laird, dead at 74|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-to-flamboyant-unionist-peer-laird-dead-at-74-37103409.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=2018-07-11}}
- 5 September – Robert Coulter, Unionist politician, MLA for Antrim North (1998–2011) (b. 1929){{cite news|title=Tributes as former MLA Robert Coulter passes away|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/tributes-as-former-mla-robert-coulter-passes-away-37287808.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=2018-09-05}}
- 22 September – Jo Gilbert, film producer (Closing the Ring) and casting director, brain tumour (b. 1955 in England){{cite news|last1=Preston|first1=Allan |title=Producer who brought film world to Northern Ireland dies at 63|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/producer-who-brought-film-world-to-northern-ireland-dies-at-63-37341938.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=2018-09-22}}
- 4 October – Bertie McMinn, footballer (Distillery, Glenavon, Moyola Park), cancer (b. 1958){{cite news|last1=Gracey|first1=Jim|title=Obituary: Bertie McMinn, Irish League legend who was one of the most gifted players of his generation|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/obituary-bertie-mcminn-irish-league-legend-who-was-one-of-the-most-gifted-players-of-his-generation-37385556.html|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=2018-10-05}}
- 11 October – Jimbo Simpson, UDA paramilitary, lung cancer, 60{{cite news|last1=Ainsworth|first1=Paul|title=Holy Cross dispute UDA leader Jim Simpson dies from cancer|url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2018/10/15/news/former-north-belfast-uda-leader-dies-from-cancer-1458393/|work=The Irish News|location=Belfast|date=2018-10-15}}