THIS NEW YEAR’S Eve, TheJournal.ie brings you a roundup of the day’s main stories – plus any bits and pieces you may have missed.

• 2011 was a busy year for the army’s bomb disposal team, as it received the highest number of callouts since 1979. With 55 devices dealt with, that meant they had an average of one viable device per week.
• What was bothering Charlie Haughey in 1981? We take a look at five of the issues on his mind, as revealed in the State papers.
• President Barack Obama has made his New Year’s address to the people of the United States, describing 2011 as a time of great challenge and progress for the USA. But he says that Americans and Washington can work together to grow the economy.
• Angela Merkel has also made her address - but it was a more downbeat affair, with Merkel remembering the profound changes that took place in 2011. However, she did vow that she will fight to save the euro.
• A state of emergency has been declared in Nigeria, following attacks by the Islamist group Boko Haram, on Christmas Day. Thirty nine people died and more than 50 were injured in the attacks. President Goodluck Jonathan vowed to “crush” Boko Haram.
• If you’re in Asia or Australia, happy new year! It is already 2012 in countries like Japan, Taiwan, and Samoa, and the pics and videos are flooding in. This rather musically orientated one is from Sydney, Australia (via cityofsydney on Youtube):

• Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy have said they are “proud” and “humble” after being  named on the New Year Honour list. It has been a big year for both golfers, so what a way to top it off.
• Bust out your copy of Ulysses – the copyright on James Joyce’s work will be lifted in the EU from midnight, with all of his writing going into the public domain.
• Also going into the public domain from tomorrow is our national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann. But will it be turned into a jingle for an ad? That’s what one TD fears…
• Who were the winners and losers of 2011? Here’s our take on the matter, with pictures included.
• It has been a tough year for Priory Hall residents, who were moved out of their homes due to safety concerns and will spend the beginning of the new year in temporary accommodation. They delivered a letter to Priory Hall’s developer today, telling him they don’t wish him a happy new year.
• Has Iran been testing its medium to long-range missiles - or has it been bluffing the US navy and the world press?
• Oof! We take a look back at the 13 most cringetastic moments of the year, including Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary in swimming trunks.
• RTÉ’s Jim Fahy has retired – after almost 38 years working with the State broadcaster. So who paid him a tribute on tonight’s Six One News? Only our President, Michael D Higgins.

• What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon Levitt want to know. Whatever you’re doing, we at TheJournal.ie wish you a very happy one.  (Video via hellogiggles on Youtube.)

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