1904 To 1910
1904 The nave of St Anne’s Cathedral Belfast is consecrated on June 2nd. The sanctuary of the old church is retained and the west front remains unfinished.
City: Electric trams begin to replace horse-drawn trams.
IRL: Abbey Theatre Dublin opens.
World: Britain and France settle their international differences and sign the Entente Cordiale. War begins between Russia and Japan over Manchuria and Korea.
1905 IRL: Arthur Griffiths founds the political party, Sinn Féin, meaning 'we ourselves' . Their aim - to free Ireland from British rule and gain independence for the whole of Ireland.
World: In Russo-Japanese War, Russia suffers several defeats including the surrender of Port Arthur to the Japanese. The Russian Revolution of 1905 begins on “Bloody Sunday” when troops fire onto a defenseless group of demonstrators in St. Petersburg. Strikes and riots follow. Sailors on Russian battleship Potemkin mutiny. Reforms are introduced by Czar Nicholas II's “October Manifesto” including the first Duma.
1906 Andrew Carnegie offers £800 towards the cost of an organ if that sum can be matched locally.
City: The City Hall designed by the London architect Alfred Brumwell Thomas is completed. It is one of Ireland's most impressive buildings and considered one of the finest examples of Baroque Revival architecture in the British Isles. It is quadrangular in form, with a copper dome, and is faced with Portland stone. The interior is lavishly decorated, with extensive use of Greek and Italian marble. The City Hall is built from the profits of the City’s Gas Works.
World: Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, locates the Magnetic North Pole. Ethiopia is declared independent in a tripartite pact and the country is divided into British, French, and Italian spheres of influence. Finland is the first European country to give women the vote.
1907 The new organ is inaugurated at the memorial service for Bishop Welland.
World: 46 nations take part in the Second Hague Peace Conference and adopt 10 conventions on rules of war. The first Cubist exhibition is held in Paris.
1908 City: The keel of the “Titanic” is laid (March).
RL: Founding of Irish Transport Workers' Union (later becomes the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union.
World: An earthquake and resulting tsunami kill 70,000 to 100,000 in southern Italy and Sicily. Petroleum production starts in the Middle East.
1909 IRL: The Irish Transport and General Workers Union is founded.
World: American explorers Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson reach the North Pole. Japan begins a 36-year occupation of Korea. The Japanese prince Hirobumi Ito is assassinated by a Korean nationalist.
1910 IRL: John Redmond and Irish Nationalist MP's hold the balance of power at Westminster. Dublin born and raised, Sir Edward Carson becomes leader of the Unionists who are determined to defeat Home Rule.
World: The Union of South Africa is established, with its parliamentary capital in Cape Town and an administrative capital in Pretoria (May 31). The Portuguese monarchy ends and Teofilio Braga is selected as president of new republic. Japan formally annexes Korea.
