2024 has been a dramatic year for Ireland and the world - especially in the world of politics.

Here are six of the stories this year will be remembered for.

Ireland v Israel

As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on despite various talks of a ceasefire deal, Ireland’s dealings with the conflict have come into the limelight in 2024.

At the beginning of the year, it was discovered that Irish lawyer Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC was advising South Africa’s legal team on its high-profile proceedings in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

South Africa brought the case to the ICJ alleging that Israel is committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Ms Ní Ghrálaigh KC told judges at the ICJ that the “horror of the genocide against the Palestinian people” was being live streamed around the world in real time.

In late March, after months of weekly pro-Palestinian protests, Tánaiste Micheál Martin announced that Ireland will intervene in the ICJ case.

The flag of Palestine (left) flying outside Leinster House where the Dáil is, Dublin. Image: PA Images/Alamy

In May, Ireland began officially recognising Palestine as a State.

The Palestinian flag was raised over Leinster House on May 28.

The recognition established full diplomatic relations between Ireland and Palestine and upgraded the Palestinian Mission to Ireland to an embassy, with the appointment of an Ambassador.

Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid was appointed on November 5th.

During the heightened Israeli bombing of Lebanon in October, Taoiseach Simon Harris condemned action against UNIFIL troops.

“Any firing in the vicinity of UNIFIL troops or facilities is reckless and must stop,” he said.

President Higgins with Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid. 17-12-24 Pic Maxwell’s - No Repro Fee.

In mid-December, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that Israel’s embassy in Ireland would close due to "extreme anti-Israel policies”.

Israel's ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich accused Ireland of being “extreme with its obsession against Israel”.

Taoiseach Simon Harris denied these allegations, saying “nobody is going to silence Ireland”.

President Michael D Higgins condemned Israel for calling Mr Harris and Irish people antisemitic, saying it was “defamation and slander”.

Violence against women

Ireland has come out in droves to reject violence against women in Ireland.

In June, serving Irish soldier Cathal Crotty, who beat a woman unconscious in a random attack, walked free from court after receiving a fully suspended sentence.

Crotty boasted about the incident afterwards on social media and had initially tried to blame the victim - 24-year-old Natasha O'Brien - by wrongly telling arresting Gardaí that she had instigated the attack.

It happened on O'Connell Street in Limerick on May 29th, 2022.

Crotty attacked Ms O’Brien after she asked him to stop yelling a homophobic slur.

Hours after the attack Crotty messaged friends on Snapchat with the words, "Two to put her down, two to put her out."

Ms O'Brien sustained a broken nose, bruising, nightmares and panic attacks afterwards.

Judge Tom O'Donnell said Crotty's actions were "utterly appalling" but said he had "no doubt" if he imposed an immediate jail sentence on Crotty his Army "career is over".

The Judge imposed a three-year sentence which he suspended in its entirety and ordered Crotty to pay €3,000 compensation to Ms O'Brien.

Natasha O'Brien speaking outside the Dail. Image: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

After this sentenced was handed down, thousands of Irish people took to the streets in protest.

Crotty was subsequently discharged by the Defence Forces in July this year.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) also announced in July that it will appeal Crotty’s suspended three-year sentence on the grounds that the sentence was overly lenient.

Planned farewell tributes to Judge Tom O’Donnell who retired from the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in late June were cancelled.

Nikita Hand reads a statement to press outside the High Court. 22/11/2024 Photograph: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Irish people were glued to news coverage of a High Court civil case between Nikita Hand and Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor.

Ms Hand accused McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel and won her claim against him for damages.

Ms Hand was awarded €248,603.60 by the jury.

The trial appeared extremely difficult for Ms Hand who was seated on a bench in front of Conor McGregor throughout.

She broke down on a number of occasions, often requesting comfort breaks, as she relived what she described as a brutal rape at the hands of McGregor.

Ms Hand said the trial had been a "nightmare" but she would "never forget" the support she had received from her friends and family.

"Now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter," she said.

Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in Dublin in “utter solidarity” with Nikita Hand after she won her case.

Irish politics

It has been anything but a quiet year for Irish politics.

In March, Irish citizens were asked to vote in two referendums to change the Constitution.

The first referendum was looking to expand the concept of family in the Constitution.

The second referendum proposed to delete an existing part of the Constitution and insert new text providing recognition for care provided by family members to each other.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announces his resignation as both Taoiseach and Party Leader of Fine Gael. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie. 20/03/2024

The then Government and main opposition party, Sinn Féin, both rallied for a yes vote, however, both referendums were rejected outright by the public.

The results of the referendum were disastrous for the Government, with then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stepping down two weeks later.

Simon Harris was elected leader of Fine Gael in the wake of Mr Varadkar’s resignation, making him the youngest Taoiseach in Irish history.

Following the failed referendums, the local and European elections took place in June.

Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking on the phone from his office at Government Buildings in Dublin, 15-5-24. Image: X/@SimonHarrisTD

The first directly elected mayor election in Ireland was held in Limerick at the same time, with John Moran taking the seat.

Less than six months later, a General Election was called.

Irish people took to the polls on November 29th for the third time in a year.

While the new Dáil has met for the first time to elect the first female Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, Ireland enters 2025 awaiting Government formation.

Donald Trump

It has been an interesting year for American billionaire Donald Trump.

In mid-July, Mr Trump suffered an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania as the Presidential campaign in the United States began to heat up.

Part of Mr Trump’s ear was pierced and two people, including the shooter, were killed.

The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks as the shooter, who was quickly shot down by police snipers.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The US Secret Service said he fired "multiple shots" from an "elevated position".

The motive remains unclear.

A member of the audience was also killed and two were critically injured in the shooting, according to the Secret Service.

Later in the year, Mr Trump won the US Presidential election for the second time.

President-elect Trump is due to take office on January 20th, 2025.

The Olympics

In the madness of 2024, it would be easy to forget that the Paris Summer Olympics took place from late July to mid-August of this year.

Ireland sent a record 134 athletes to the Games, across 15 sports.

Irish athletes won seven medals at the Olympics across a wide range of sports – four gold and three bronze.

Ireland's team moves down the Seine River in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool)

A number of Northern Ireland athletes competed for Great Britain and Northern Ireland as well.

At the Summer Paralympics 2024, which took place shortly after the Summer Olympics, Ireland took home six medals – one gold, three silver and two bronze.

Main image: The flag of Palestine (left) flying outside Leinster House where the Dáil is, Dublin. Image: PA Images/Alamy