YEAR TOOK US BY STORM

We look back at whirlwind events of last 12 months

- BY PAT FLANAGAN

IT'S been a tumultuous year which saw political and climatic storms as well as a presidential election which resulted in a landslide victory for Catherine Connolly.

And while the economy boomed in 2025 families continued to struggle with the ever-increasing cost-of-living while the housing crisis deepened.

But on the brighter side the Boys in Green kept our World Cup hopes alive with stunning wins over Portugal and Hungary.

The continuing slaughter of civilians in Gaza by Israel continued to spark protests around the country but there was also hope the killing would end when a ceasefire was declared.

The weather made many headlines throughout the year, especially on January 24 when Storm Eowyn, the worst to hit us since 1961, left two dead and 768,000 homes and businesses without power.

The previous day the Dail elected Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin as the new Taoiseach and he named his new Cabinet.

Such was the ferocity of Storm Eowyn it was only on February 12 that ESB Networks could confirm it had restored electricity to all customers across the nation.

At the end of that month, Mr Martin met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Shannon Airport on his way for the now notorious meeting with President Trump at the White House.

SLURRY

In March, a huge search was launched after 56-year old sheep and cattle farmer Michael Gaine disappeared in Co Kerry. His remains were discovered while slurry was being spread on the farmland in May.

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 20, Easter Sunday, President Higgins, his wife, Sabina, the Taoiseach and Tanaiste flew to Rome for the Pontiff's funeral.