1998 was the year the site for the new Scottish Parliament building was chosen (spoiler alert, it was Holyrood in Edinburgh) .
With the year 2000 getting closer it was also the year concern began to grow about something called the “Millenium Bug”. It was feared that in 2-years time when we moved from 1999 to 2000 computers around the world would not be able to cope and chaos would ensue (spoiler alert, it didn’t).
Early in 1998 a scandal emerges for US President Bill Clinton over allegations of a relationship with a young intern called Monica Lewinsky. His denial, and then his change in story, leads to Congress voting to charge the president with perjury and obstruction of justice.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan visits Libya to discuss the extradition of two men suspected of carrying out 1988’s Lockerbie bombing. He proposes a deal with Colonel Gaddafi to conduct their trial in the Netherlands under Scots Law.
It’s also the year what becomes known as the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ is put to a vote in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the result is a large majority in favour of the agreement, the result paves the way for a military scale-down, police reform and paramilitary decommissioning
In film, Peter Mullan wins Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival for ‘My Name Is Joe’ directed by Ken Loach, John Hannah and Gwyneth Paltrow star in Sliding Doors and Bruce Willis saves the wold from “Armageddon”.
In music, Edinburgh’s Finley Quaye is has a huge hit with ‘Your Love Gets Sweeter’ , he goes on to win Best Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards.
Also in 1998 former Take That member, Robbie Williams lands his first UK No.1 with ‘Millennium’ and it’s bad news for Spice Girls fans as Geri Halliwell quits the band.
On the final day of the football season, Celtic win a match that secures the championship, their first title win in ten years, following a lengthy period dominated by Rangers.
At the World Cup in France, Scotland are drawn to play Brazil in the tournament’s opening match, watched by an estimated 1 billion TV audience. Show less