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Dublin Live
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Diane Burke

From fashion to music - 10 things we all remember from 2003 in Dublin

As we begin a new year, we decided to take a trip down memory lane and look at what was trending back in 2003. It's hard to believe that it's been 20 years since these were relevant in our lives.

The noughties was a decade that witnessed numerous memorable trends from velour tracksuits to what hits were playing on our iPods.

Have a read of the selection of memorable moments and trends we looked back on that are now 20 years old, from what we watched on the big screen to what we searched for online and everything in between.

Read more: Photos from the 2000s show Dublin nights out at Lillie's, Coppers & more

What we communicated on

The MySpace logo seen displayed on a smartphone in 2015 (© 2021 SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Hands up if the first thing you did after getting home from school was to turn on the family computer, wait for the dial-up Internet to kick in, and sign in to MySpace? Communication has certainly come a long way since the social networking service first launched 20 years ago.

What we bought

You know the years are catching on if you're old enough to remember this blast from the past - video tapes. Not rewinding the tape used to be just as sinful as leaving the immersion. Now a retired entertainment source, there's no doubt that every household from Swords to Killiney has a collection of them in their attics.

What we wore

Socialite Paris Hilton wearing a dark grey velour tracksuit in 2004 (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage for Nancy Davis via Getty Images)

Nothing screams early noughties fashion more than Paris Hilton in a velour tracksuit. Other wardrobe staples from that decade would have included low-rise jeans and scarf belts - here's hoping they stay firmly in the history books!

What we named our babies

This picture taken on September 13, 2022, shows a nurse feeding newborn baby in the maternity ward in the Gabrovo hospital (Photo by NIKOLAY DOYCHINOV/AFP via Getty Images)

The most popular baby boy name recorded in Dublin for 2003 was Sean while the majority of girls born in the same year were called Emma.

What was released

Girlfriends and wives scorn the day this game hit the shelves and put their partners under its addictive spell. This October, it will be 20 years since the first game of 'Call of Duty' was released.

What we searched for

Singer Britney Spears in 2003 (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage via Getty Images)

What we browsed for can tell us a lot about what was trending that year. The top Google searches in 2003 included pop princess Britney Spears, Harry Potter, Matrix, and David Beckham.

What was on the big screen

Actor Matthew McConaughey arrives at the premiere of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" at the Cinerama Dome on January 27, 2003 in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Rom-coms were at their peak popularity throughout the noughties. It's safe to say that one of the most iconic chic flicks made its debut on our screens back in 2003 - 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'.

What we consumed

If you were brought up during the early 00s, it's safe to assume that your diet consisted of Sunny Delight, Fruit Winders, and BN biscuits.

What we listened to

Rapper '50 Cent' at the MTV Studios in New York, February 2003 (Getty Images)

Nothing hits us right in the nostalgia feels quite like music can. The Billboard top single of 2003 was 50 Cent's 'In da Club', other popular hits that year included Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love' and Sean Paul's 'Get Busy'.

What was completed

The Spire located on O'Connell Street in Dublin City (Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Can you believe it has been 20 years since the Spire was completed? Since the Anna Livia monument made way for the structure, it has become a prime meeting spot on the north side of the Liffey for locals as while as a go-to photo opportunity for tourists to the capital. Over the years it has gained some interesting nicknames like, 'the nail in the Pale' and 'stiletto in the ghetto'.

Read more:

For more blasts from Dublin's past, visit our nostalgia homepage here. To get the best of nostalgia delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our FREE newsletter here.

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