2014 started with a bang with two of the worst storms to ever hit the country battered the North, West and South in January and February.
There was also a storm on the horizon for the Government, however, in what came to be known as the GardaGate controversy – which saw the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter resign amid whistleblower allegations.
On March 8th, Malaysian airline’s MH370 disappeared without trace sparking a number of international searches as the families of all 239 passengers are still waiting for answers about their whereabouts of their missing loved ones.
Back home, Rehab CEO Angela Kearns faced tough questions from Mary Lou McDonald at the Public Accounts Committee over her salary and the €10,000 profit on lottery ticket sales of four million euro.
By the time summer came round, people were happy to enjoy the mild weather but not without a price according to Senator Ned O’Sullivan. He launched a campaign to tackle the country’s “raucous seagulls” who he claimed had “lost the run of themselves”.
However, in July a crisis in the East of Europe took another dimension when a Malaysian flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine near the Russian border. Nearly 300 innocent lives were taken.
The plight of the innocent was also highlighted after the discovery of a mass grave of 796 babies on the grounds of a former mother-and-baby home in Tuam, Co Galway. The Government announced a public inquiry into the homes to be chaired by Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy.
Irish entertainers had a mixed year. Bray’s Hozier appeared on Saturday Night Live and saw his hit ‘Take Me To Church’ become the most streamed song of 2014. However, it wasn’t so rosy for the old guard – U2 was forced to apologise after iTunes users complained about the band’s latest album being automatically downloaded to their accounts.
But it was an American entertainer who created the biggest controversy – when an administrative cock-up between promoters Aiken, The GAA and Dublin City Council surrounding five planned Garth Brooks’ concerts divided the country.
2014 saw the best of times and the worst of times for Sinn Féin. The party saw a massive increase in support in the local elections. However, this was soon followed by allegations of a sexual abuse cover-up within the IRA made by Mairia Cahill.
After a trouncing for the Labour party in the local elections, Eamon Gilmore was replaced by Joan Burton, who would be the party’s first female leader.
One of the biggest moments of 2014 was Scotland’s Independence referendum – when despite the best efforts of the Better Together campaign the people voted ‘No’.
2014 also saw the passing of two of this island’s political giants – former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and former DUP leader Ian Paisley. Other notable deaths included Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Peaches Geldof.
We save the best until last. The political event of the year in Ireland was undoubtedly the Irish Water saga. It became the one issue that saw the public - and most surprisingly the middle-ground – snap and take to the streets in protest over paying water charges.
The long hot summer saw the controversy and protests heated up after the private company Irish Water issued application forms that required a range of information – including the disclosure of people’s PPS numbers.
It led to a climb-down from the Government with the entire structure of the Irish Water charges re-jigged – pushing back billing dates and a €100 flat rate. But the others are still steadfast in their opposition to pay.
