At A Glance

17 December 2008 at a glance

Day of the week
17 December 2008 was a Wednesday.
Irish Chart Song in 2008
The Irish chart song for 2008 was “Hallelujah” by Alexandra Burke.
Top Film of 2008
The highest-grossing film worldwide released in 2008 was The Dark Knight.
Star sign
The star sign for 17 December is Sagittarius.
Chinese zodiac
In the Chinese zodiac, 17 December 2008 fell in the Year of the Rat.
Birthstone
The birthstone for December is Turquoise.
Moon phase
The moon phase on 17 December 2008 was Waning Gibbous.

On this day: 17 December

  • 2002 Second Congo War: The Congolese parties of the Inter Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord which makes provision for transitional governance and legislative and presidential elections within two years.
  • 2003 SpaceShipOne, piloted by Brian Binnie, makes its first powered and first supersonic flight.
  • 2005 Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicates the throne as King of Bhutan.
  • 2010 Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring.
  • 2014 The United States and Cuba re-establish diplomatic relations after severing them in 1961.

Famous people born on 17 December

  • Sarah Paulson, American actress (born 1974)
  • Milla Jovovich, Ukrainian-American actress (born 1975)
  • Bill Pullman, American actor (born 1953)
  • Pope Francis, Argentinian Pope of the Catholic Church (1936–2025)

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Choose your country: the charts, news and leaders change to match.

Events of 2008 in Ireland

A selection from Wikipedia's '2008 in Ireland'. Not a complete list.

  • 2 January – The Burlington Hotel in Dublin closed after 36 years in business with the loss of 400 jobs.
  • 12 March – Libertas lobby group launched a campaign called Facts, not politics which advocated a No vote in the Treaty of Lisbon referendum.
  • 20 May – The television puppet Dustin the Turkey failed to qualify for the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 after being knocked out at the first semi-finals stage.
More events of 2008 →Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Life in Ireland in 2008

Taoiseach

Brian Cowen

Petrol (per litre)

€1.32/L

Loaf of Bread

€1.45

Average House

€300,000

Weekly Wage

€460

Or

Browse by Year

The 1940s
1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
The 1950s
1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
The 1960s
1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
The 1970s
1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
The 1980s
1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
The 1990s
1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
The 2000s
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
The 2010s
2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
The 2020s
20202021202220232024

Famous Faces Born in the 2000s

Well-known people born in the same decade as you, not on your birthday.

Troy Parrott4 February 2002FootballerView their day →Kate O'Connor12 December 2000AthleteView their day →Evan Ferguson19 October 2004FootballerView their day →Rhasidat Adeleke29 August 2002AthleteView their day →Adam Idah11 February 2001FootballerView their day →Amybeth McNulty7 November 2001ActressView their day →James Abankwah16 January 2004FootballerView their day →Sophie O'Sullivan23 December 2001AthleteView their day →

Sources: Wikidata and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

About The Day You Were Born

Ever wondered what was happening in the world when you took your first breath? Our birthday lookup tool reveals the fascinating history of your special day.

About The Birthday Chronicle and where our data comes from →