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These are the winners and losers from the Irish political year 2024

As picked by The Journal team.

IT’S THAT TIME of year again, where we cast our eye back over the Irish political year to see who has weathered the storms successfully and who has struggled to keep their head above water. 

There’s lots to unpack for 2024 – we’ve had the local and European elections, a couple of referendums, the loss of a Taoiseach earlier this year, and throw in a general election to boot. 

This year, The Journal team announced its political awards on podcast The Candidate.

You can catch up on the reasoning behind each award by tuning into the episode here.

Editor Sinéad O’Carroll, Deputy Editor Christine Bohan, Political Editor Christina Finn and Political Correspondent Jane Matthews also talk through the Ah Here Moment of the Year and Whoopsie of the Year.

One of the awards is Politician of the Year. We each nominated a candidate and put it to the rest of the team for a vote. Votes were counted by PR-STV by Producer Nicky Ryan.

Agree or disagree, you can let us know in the comments section who you think was most deserving. 

Here’s a run down of the awards: 

Politician of the Year: Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin

fianna-fail-leader-micheal-martin-celebrates-after-he-was-deemed-elected-in-the-cork-south-central-constituency-at-the-election-count-centre-at-nemo-rangers-gaa-club-in-cork-after-voters-went-to-the Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The nominations were: Micheál Martin, Ivana Bacik, Jack Chambers and Eamon Ryan. 

The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin received the top gong for his performance over the last year and for essentially winning the election for his party, getting 48 seats for Fianna Fáil.

“It was an election year. He had a job to do and he did the job,” the podcast team said. 

His performance in relation to Gaza was also highlighted, notwithstanding the fact there is an overall view the government can do and should do more.

Looking at where the Fianna Fáil party has come from to where it is now, leading the next government, it is a notable political feat.

To creep out of the shadow of the economic crash and and to come back to be the largest party in the Dáil is some political achievement.

The Minister Who Got Shit Done: Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys

minister-for-social-protection-heather-humphreys-during-a-press-conference-at-the-government-buildings-in-dublin-picture-date-tuesday-october-10-2023 Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The outgoing Fine Gael minister was given the nod for her work in managing to deliver the largest Social Protection budget in the history of the State – over €2.6 billion worth of measures aimed at supporting our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities and working families. 

Her work in getting the auto-enrolment pension scheme legislated for before heading for the hills was also noted upon.

The Opposition TD of the Year: People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett

leader-of-people-before-profit-solidarity-richard-boyd-barrett-during-the-general-election-leaders-debate-at-rte-studios-in-montrose-dublin-rtes-upfront-with-katie-hannon-is-hosting-irelands-la Richard Boyd Barrett Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The People Before Profit TD was commended for his oratory and being a voice on the issue of Palestine.

Richard Boyd Barrett has been highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people for a long time now and has spoken truth to power when European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen attended the Dáil. 

The Next Big Thing Award: Labour’s Marie Sherlock

cork-ireland-25th-mar-2023-the-72nd-labour-party-conference-is-underway-at-the-silver-springs-hotel-cork-today-labour-senator-marie-sherlock-speaks-to-the-media-outside-the-conference-hall-c Marie Sherlock Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Labour’s Marie Sherlock managed to stave off Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch from taking a seat in her constituency. Having been a senator and now a TD, the team believe she is a rising star in the Labour Party. One to watch, for sure.

The Must Try Harder Merit: Social Democrats, now Independent TD Eoin Hayes 

011Eoin Hayes_90718613 Eoin Hayes RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Eoin Hayes, who was suspended from the Social Democrats Party before he could take his seat in the new Dáil, was given this award for obvious reasons.

He found himself embroiled in controversy over the sale of his shares in Palantir. Must try harder in 2025.

The Late Debate Debater of the Year: Aontú’s Peadar Toíbín

leader-of-aontu-peadar-toibin-during-the-general-election-leaders-debate-at-rte-studios-in-montrose-dublin-rtes-upfront-with-katie-hannon-is-hosting-irelands-largest-ever-leaders-general-electi Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Aontú’s Peadar Toíbín gets the nod for this award for his clear and concise communication skills which he has displayed in leaders debate programmes as well as numerous radio and TV appearances. 

The Resignation of the Year: Leo Varadkar 

Leo Varadkar announces resignation-37_90701645 Leo Varadkar announcing his resignation earlier this year. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

There were lots of resignations this year – Brian Stanley, Simon Coveney, Eamon Ryan, to name but a few, but the most notable was former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announcing on the steps of Government Buildings that he was throwing in the towel.

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    Mute John Staunton
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:01 PM

    everyone approaches the comments section with apprehension waiting for that nob who can’t help themselves!

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:43 PM

    They are patrolling for spoilers.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:25 PM

    Was just sitting down to watch the finale and decided I’d troll – posted on FB “Khalesi DIEDED?!”

    Almost instant reaction. Now I’m not going to say what did happen – but it was entertaining. I think I’m going to start every episode of next season by making a wild statement; hours of fun.

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    Mute John Quinn
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:21 PM

    Low tech solution. Just don’t look at Twitter for 24 hours.

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    Mute Mick Bacon
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:31 PM

    The dragon eats the blond one .

    106
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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:44 PM

    I don’t think I’ve one friend stupid enough to post spoilers online, best filter ever.

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    Mute Jax Maxwel
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    Jun 15th 2015, 2:46 PM

    Its not your friends you should be worried about its some randomer in a comments sections telling you **** **** dies that’s the prob!

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    Mute Jax Maxwel
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    Jun 15th 2015, 2:48 PM

    Ah the journal has blocked **** **** name and foiled my evil plan.

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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Jun 15th 2015, 3:35 PM

    It’s also American websites because it aired last night. I opened my Facebook this morning and the first thing on my screen was an article about the finale!

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    Mute Ron North
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:46 PM

    I watched on a live stream last night, Eddard Stark is back, and he’s angry!

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:43 PM

    R+L=J

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    Mute Anyway
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:50 PM

    I think the article would have come in handy at the start of the season since the massacre of characters started well before episode 9 this time.

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    Mute Evin Lee
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:21 PM

    spoiler alert

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:44 PM

    I like how the journal considers this a ‘business’ article as opposed to entertainment.

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    Mute Barry Flynn
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    Jun 15th 2015, 2:11 PM

    feck ye all. been on holidays for 3 weeks so have 3 episodes to watch. im drumk and spoiler free by not logging on to facebook. tomorrow will be the sweetest tv binge day ever.

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    Mute Tony Canning
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:29 PM

    The dwarf eats a mushroom – bashes head on many gravity defying walls – profit.

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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:18 PM

    BBC News you shower of muppets!!!!

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:45 PM

    hardly spoilers considering the show is based on books.

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:47 PM

    Programme has passed the books. There’s stuff happening in the show that has yet to be put into a book. Got rid of my copies pointless having them now.

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    Mute Colm Odinson
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:48 PM

    Not everyone has read the books. Besides, it’s not a 100% faithful adaptation.

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    Mute Anyway
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    Jun 15th 2015, 12:49 PM

    Season 5 officially passed the books at this stage, when it comes to the main POV at least.

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    Mute John Horan
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:38 PM

    @Anyway, they haven’t, but they are really close. The only part that is actually past the end of the books is Tyrion’s story.

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    Mute Anthony Ryan
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    Jun 15th 2015, 2:13 PM

    They’re not the same story anymore. Where’s Aegon Targaryan, the Iron Islands, Aerys Oakheart?

    They’ve taken the TV show down a different route and it’s a pretty safe bet that the TV and books will have different endings.

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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Jun 15th 2015, 3:46 PM

    I dont think so Antony. Benioff & Weiss know how A Song of Ice and Fire is supposed to end so that they can finish it should GRRM be unable to finish his books. They also only got the go ahead from GRRM to adapt the story because they proved to him to be hardcore fans and were correct on who Jon’s mother is.

    No mattee how far they stray from the actual arcs, they always arrive back at the original plot points, usually to save time and intriducing new unnecessary characters.

    Speaking of unnecessary characters, Aegon could be one of them. The jury’s out on wether he’s a legit Targaryen. Think Mya Stone, Edric Storm… written as illegitimate Baratheons. GRRM has a habit of throwing diversionary characters into the books. No one’s sure Aegon’s arc was actually going to go anywhere – but he may yet show up in Season 6, his arrival obviously will be different as Jorah took that!!!

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    Mute Conor Power
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    Jun 15th 2015, 7:56 PM

    My wish for characters to see more of/return in Season 6 would be Greatjon and the Blackfish.

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    Mute Derry Seery
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    Jun 15th 2015, 7:56 PM

    And the woman with a “heart of stone”!!

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    Mute Barry Sheehan
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    Jun 15th 2015, 2:54 PM

    Valar Morghulis!

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    Mute Ron North
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:47 PM

    Valar Dracarys!

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    Mute Barra Ó Longargáin
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:33 PM

    Overall it’s been a very disappointing season… Last nights episode included

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    Mute Dan Broderick
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    Jun 15th 2015, 10:35 PM

    Last year was much better, this was the worst season by a long way

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    Mute Peter Walsh
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    Jun 15th 2015, 11:57 PM

    Turn off interweb. Unplug fax. Disassemble telegraph. Shoot messenger ravens.

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    Mute Dan Broderick
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    Jun 15th 2015, 1:26 PM

    Cersei commits suicide by jumping off the bridge during her naked walk of shame

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    Mute Derek
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    Jun 15th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Watch it for the plot.

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    Mute fuve
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    Jun 16th 2015, 2:07 AM

    They killed them all the good ones. Got to be kidding me. I’ll bet the witch brings him back.otherwise I am done with the show. Killing all good characters bad for ratings.

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    Mute John Ward
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    Jun 15th 2015, 9:53 PM

    Here’s how to avoid “spoilers”. Don’t bother watching that crap!

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    Mute martina
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    Jun 15th 2015, 10:55 PM

    You know nothing John Ward!

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