In pictures: TheJournal.ie’s winners and losers of 2011

Who came out on top, and who was bringing up the rear? Here are our picks for the winners and losers of the year.

WELL, IT’S BEEN emotional. Two elections, one Budget and countless Ryan Gosling movies later, here we are at the end of 2011.

For some, it was a year they’ll look back on with pleasure. For others, twelve months they’d probably rather forget.

So who were the winners and losers of 2011? TheJournal.ie looks at the people (and things) who’ll be popping open the bubbly this holiday season – and those who’ll be sticking to the Alka-Seltzer…

In pictures: TheJournal.ie’s winners and losers of 2011

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GOOD YEAR - Enda Kenny
All things considered, it's been a vintage year for Enda. After going from party heave to Taoiseach in just a few short months, he's hosted Barack Obama AND the Queen, then delivered a widely-lauded attack on the Vatican. His party also succeeded in shifting the burden of Budget cuts onto coalition partners Labour. We think on balance, Enda will be pretty pleased with himself. (Niall Carson/PA Archive)
BAD YEAR - Brian Cowen
From Taoiseach to political oblivion in a few short months, and still blamed for everything that's wrong with Ireland. I'm pretty sure it was him who broke our washing machine. It hasn't been a good year for Brian. (Julien Behal/PA Archive)
GOOD YEAR - Anne Doyle
The announcement of Doyle's retirement this year - her last broadcast dovetailing neatly with the birth of Christ - only confirmed her status as a national icon. She even appeared on a stamp, for goodness' sake. So she's going out on a high. How do we love thee, Anne Doyle? Let us count the ways. (Photocall Ireland)
BAD YEAR - Rupert Murdoch
The phone hacking scandal that News International had been trying to stifle for years finally burst out in the summer - and took Murdoch from all-powerful media baron to sad-looking old man, posing inappropriately in gym shorts. The aftershocks are still continuing and the future of his remaining newspapers is uncertain. (Steve Parsons/PA Wire)
GOOD YEAR - Independent TDs
This was the year that independent TDs really came into their own. Riding a wave of discontent with traditional political parties in February, they were elected in rarely-before-seen numbers. Then the formation of the Dáil technical group gave them an unprecedented voice in the day-to-day business of politics. The only question is: Can they use this platform to effect real change? (Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)
BAD YEAR - The Greens
The Greens were never going to survive the general election with much, but their decision to stay with Cowen and co to the bitter end consigned them to the howling wastes. With no TDs, and slim prospects, it's hard to imagine that the party's recent 30th birthday party was much fun. (Photocall Ireland)
GOOD YEAR - Ryan Gosling
When future alien life-forms sift through the wreckage of Earth civilisation, they will surely conclude that 2011 was the Year of Gosling. Not only did Hollywood appear incapable of making a movie without him - we had Blue Valentine, Drive, Crazy Stupid Love and The Ides of March - but some people were so incensed at his snub for Sexiest Man Alive that they staged a street protest. He also inspired a hot-dog throwing incident. 'Nuff said. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Chris Young)
BAD YEAR - Superinjunctions
Thousands of Twitter users rendered the UK courts effectively redundant earlier this year when they publicised the fact that Ryan Giggs (among others) had sought a 'superinjunction' against his former mistress. The resulting fallout was widely seen as a victory for the media, which had been banned from reporting even the existence of the orders. (AP Photo / Jon Super)
GOOD YEAR - Rebecca Black
Her vanity-produced pop debut Friday became a sensation of the wrong kind, racked up millions of derisive views subjecting Black to unprecedented Twitter vitriol. But she has somehow parlayed this notoriety into a career, with event invitations flowing in and a new single out recently. Good luck to her and all. (Vince Flores/UK Press/Press Association Images)
BAD YEAR - The euro
Oh dear. Summit after summit, crisis after crisis and still it's not clear whether the euro can be saved from itself. As political leaders juggled domestic populism with the need for reform, economists and markets watched in horror. No clinking glasses in Brussels this New Year - when there's speculation the Central Bank is printing punts, you know you're in trouble. (CTK Photo/Martin Sterba)

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In pictures: TheJournal.ie’s winners and losers of 2011

GOOD YEAR - Enda Kenny

BAD YEAR - Brian Cowen

GOOD YEAR - Anne Doyle

BAD YEAR - Rupert Murdoch

GOOD YEAR - Independent TDs

BAD YEAR - The Greens

GOOD YEAR - Ryan Gosling

BAD YEAR - Superinjunctions

GOOD YEAR - Rebecca Black

BAD YEAR - The euro

More: Full coverage from TheJournal.ie‘s Year in Review 2011>

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.