Can you renew a green card even after it has expired (2008)?

[gcrenewal]

I had a green card when I was a kid living with my parents in NY and then we moved back home and I've come to visit and stuff but due to the nature of my passport (Irish citizenship) I could enter no problem, not needing a VISA, I wasn't able to come for a while, and so my green card expired. I came one summer (2009) and was told by my aunt (living here) that once it expires, there's a grace period to renew it and I can't renew it again.

I'm currently studying in Florida on an F-1 visa and my boyfriend tells me that I can renew my green card even if it's expired.

Is this true? How would I go about doing this? What are my options, if any?

[immihelp]

You have lost your green card status. If eligible and appropriate, you will have to apply all over again, just like you got it earlier.