announced a ceasefire six weeks after the PIRA. 2 October – Ulster Television screened a Counterpoint programme, Suffer the Little Children, beginning the exposure of Catholic Church sex abuse cases, initially those of Brendan Smyth involving children. 28 October – The inaugural session of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation took place in St. Patricks Hall, Dublin Castle. 16 November – The Fianna Fáil-Labour government coalition collapsed. 17 November – Albert Reynolds resigned as Taoiseach. However, the Dáil was not dissolved. 19 November – Bertie Ahern was elected leader of the Fianna Fáil party. 15 December – John Bruton, leader of the Fine Gael party, became Taoiseach of the so-called "Rainbow" government in coalition with the Labour and Democratic Left parties. Arts and literature 3 January – One of Warner Bros.'s famous animated series Animaniacs made its debut on Network 2. 22 October – The Boyzone debut music album, Said and Done, was released in Ireland. Maeve Binchy's novel The Glass Lake was published. Emma Donoghue's first novel Stir Fry was published. Paddy Breathnach's film Ailsa (starring Brendan Coyle) was released. Colum McCann's short-story collection Fishing the Sloe-Black River was published. Sport Association football In the World Cup Finals in the United States, Ireland reached the last 16 before losing 2–0 to the Netherlands, but on the way picked up their first World Cup finals win inside 90 minutes with a 1–0 victory over Italy. Athletics Eamonn Coghlan became the first person in the world over 40 years of age to run a sub-four minute (indoor) mile. 10 December – Catherina McKiernan won Senior Women's gold in the 1994 European Cross Country Championships, the inaugural event of the series. Gaelic football 18 September – Down GAA beat Dublin GAA 1–12 to 0–13 in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final. It was Down's fifth All-Ireland senior title, and their second in four years. Golf Murphy's Irish Open was won by Bernhard Langer (Germany). Hurling Offaly GAA beat Limerick GAA 3–16 to 2–13 to win the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final for the first time since 1985. Births 24 January – Sean Kavanagh, footballer. 12 April – Saoirse Ronan, screen actress (born in New York City). Deaths January to June 1 January – Raymond Crotty, economist (born 1925). 1 January – Andy McEvoy, soccer player (born 1938). 19 February – Micho Russell, tin whistle player and collector of traditional music and folklore