GOOD YEAR - Michael D Higgins
In his first year in office, President Michael D Higgins delighted everyone he met, including Olympic hero Katie Taylor, who didn't have such a bad year herself. (Photo: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)
BAD YEAR - Labour
Not everyone was giving Eamon Gilmore and his Labour party the thumbs up this year. Under fire for Budget cuts, and criticsed for their handling of the abortion issue, Labour have seen some turbulent times. In December, party chair Colm Keaveney became the fifth TD to lose the party whip in just 19 months. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Olympians and Paralympians
They came, they conquered and they inspired. Be they competitors, medallists or absolute legends (such as Great Britain's Mo Farah and Jamaica's Usain Bolt here) the world stood in awe of this year's crop of Olympians and Paralympians. (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
GOOD YEAR - London
Many were sceptical about London's ability to pull off the Olympic Games. Yet, they gave us what many have described as the Greatest Games of all time, starting with one of the most memorable Opening Ceremonies ever. Kudos. (Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)
BAD YEAR - Seán Fitzpatrick
Former Anglo Irish Bank boss Sean Fitzpatrick was charged with 16 offences related to alleged fraud at the bank. (Image: Niall carson/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Hillsborough Activists
The families of victims of the Hillsborough stadium disaster have been fighting for the truth for 23 years. An independent report issued in September brought about apologies from The Sun newspaper which had published fabrications about the day's events, lies told by police as part of what has been described as the biggest cover-up in British history.
BAD YEAR - David Petraeus
It was the sex scandal that just kept on growing - and ended with the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus. It emerged that he had an extramarital affair but it got more complicated with a top general in Afghanistan implicated. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
GOOD YEAR - Boris Johnson
With the success of the Olympics, came the rise of the city's Mayor Boris Johnson. The year culminated in a successful visit to India, during which he was mistaken for the King of England and tennis legend Boris Becker. (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA)
BAD YEAR - Minister James Reilly
The debacle over the location of Primary Care Centres led to the resignation of his Junior Minister and his own financial affairs got him in hot water. On top of that, he probably has the toughest portfolio of any Cabinet member. James Reilly will be hoping for better outcomes in 2013. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Barack Obama
There were rocky roads and fiscal cliffs...but he managed to fend off the challenge from Mitt Romney to secure another four years in office. US gymnast McKayla Maroney was impressed, despite what her face says. (Image: Pete Souza/White House)
BAD YEAR - The BBC
Although it was triumphant with its Olympics coverage, the BBC's year went quickly downhill with the fallout from the Savile sex scandal, as well as the Newsnight Lord McAlpine controversy. (Image: PA/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Channing Tatum
Because he was in almost every film Hollywood made this year. Because he was People's Sexiest Man Alive. And because the way Matthew McConaughey looks at him. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan)
BAD YEAR - the Apple Maps Team
There's Coolcock there in Dublin. That is according to Apple Maps, which were launched to the embarrassment of everyone at the company in September this year. Two senior execs got the chop for the disaster. And Google's Maps Division had a party.
GOOD YEAR - Niall Horan (and the rest of One Direction)
Look at him all smug there. That's Niall Horan, the wee Irish kid in One Direction, the boyband which have taken over the world this year. They even have their own shop in New York City. A whole store of 1D schtuff. (Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Nate Silver
Also all smugness and light is numbers geek Nate Silver who correctly predicted the presidential winner in all 50 US states this year, as well as almost all of the Senate races, securing his place in statistician lore. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
BAD YEAR - Seán Quinn and Family
There was jail time for both Seán Quinn and Seán Quinn Junior thi year. Meanwhile, nephew Peter Quinn failed to turn up in court and has been evading an arrest order by staying north of the border as the family's legal and financial woes continue. (Image: Niall carson/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Carly Rae Jepsen
She hung out with The Wanted, got the Justin Bieber seal of approval and created the catchiest tune of all time (Call Me Maybe). That's Carly Rae Jepsen's more-than-adequate 2012. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
BAD YEAR - Mick Wallace
He was condemned by TDs on every side of the Dáil after Revenue settled its action against Mick Wallace after he under-declared his company's VAT by about €1.4 million. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Psy
Two words to sum up the South Korean rapper's year? Gangnam Style. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
MIXED YEAR - Instagram
Every hipster became a photographer with the rise of Instagram. And the developers became multi-millionaires. But then they went and messed it all up. (Image: Edward Smith/EMPICS Entertainment)
Comments (6 Comments)