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These are the photos that made us smile in 2013

God knows we all needed a little cheering up occasionally in the past 12 months. Fortunately, there were sometimes camels on the beach…

TO PARAPHRASE A line from Fight Club: Over a long enough time-line, we all get a little depressed by the news occasionally.

At home and around the world, the last 12 months certainly had their fair share of  death, destruction, pestilence and corruption. And twerking.

Fortunately, like the the waterskiing squirrel from Anchorman, there were also occasional moments like this to put a smile on our faces…

1. HUMP DAY

image

[Image: VisitInishowen via Twitter]

Spotted on the Inishowen Penninsula at the height of the heatwave this July. In fact it was a bumper year for camels in unusual places.

2. RURAL INGENUITY

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[Image: John Callaghan]

This photo was one of 20 picked by the Irish Farmers Journal to show how Ireland was ‘owning the heatwave’. Check out the rest here.

3. BOSS TIME

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[Image: Jimi's Barber Shop/Facebook]

He spends so much time here, Ireland’s Bruce Springsteen fans were thrilled to see The Boss finally take up Irish citizenship.

4. PIZZA TIME

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[Image: Mac Innes Photography]

Michael Noonan looks like he’d much rather murder whatever PR person thought of this stunt rather than devour the perfectly delicious pizza he’s being presented with.

This was part of a campaign to keep the 9 per cent VAT rate for the hospitality sector. The role of the pizza may have been marginal, but the campaign worked.

While we’re on the subject of hungry politicians…

5. HAVING A GANDER

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[Image: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland]

Why?

6. SHATTERING EXPECTATIONS

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[Image: Defence Forces Press]

In addition to taking on taking on the Defence Forces at ping pong (and winning) Alan Shatter also had his 1990 romance novel re-printed in 2013. No-one saw that coming did they?

7. A FUNGI TO HANG OUT WITH…

image

[Image: Jeannine Masset and Rudi Schamhart]

Alive and well and living in Dingle. Evergreen Kerry dolphin Fungi is showing no signs of slowing down, and continues to draw huge crowds of interested humans. He had great fun with a couple of same-species visitors too back in November.

And while we’re in Kerry…

8. COWBOYS, TED

image

Main Street in Waterville, back in March.

It’s times like this that we’re hoping there’s no-one from outside Ireland looking at this website. Let’s keep this one between ourselves, shall we?

9. DANGER ROAD IS IN SHITE

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[Image: Gemma Sherlock]

Taken at Barley Hill, near Kingscourt in Co Cavan back in January. Apparently the roads in the area are — how should we put this? ‘In shite’.

10. SOME NECK

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[Image: Ronan Lee]

The gardaí were already pretty busy back in October during a particularly wet spell of weather. The fact that aquatic birds started wandering out of the Dodder, unable to tell the difference between their habitual environment and, say, the vicinity of a Range Rover on Anglesea Road, didn’t make their lives any easier.

12. TINY DANCERS

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[Image: Carlow Pan Celtic International Festival]

Determination. And ringlets.

From the launch of the Carlow Pan Celtic International Festival back in March.

11. STOP CLAMPING YOURSELF

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[Image: C Kortenhorst/Twitter. See cksolutions.ie]

No comment needed, we think.

13. THIS IS IRELAND

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[Image: Annie Leibovitz /Vogue]

Vogue magazine's depiction of Ireland had us all cracking up. They also introduced the world to the notion of 'mountain goat as winter accessory'. Why right now, there are probably hipsters wandering around downtown Portland dressed exactly like Adam Driver in this photo.

Read: 45 images that made us cry this year >

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17 Comments
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    Mute David Walsh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:21 PM

    Can infect the brain but the body still works………is that not Facebook !!!

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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:17 PM

    We have these in Ireland already they’re called the government, only they feed on other peoples money!!!

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:34 PM

    I detest the government too, but for the love of Jaysis that was poor.

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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:04 PM

    @les rock: but true

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    Mute Joseph Bosh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:14 PM

    So basically some mad scientist could actually create the RAGE virus from 28 days later or the t-virus in resident evil…

    …on the plus side the wouldn’t have to just be hit in the brain. Anywhere will do.

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    Mute Aidan Finn
    Favourite Aidan Finn
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:31 PM

    The government should send sports accessories and garden utensils for the coming zombie apocalypse. Make sure you store them with your iodine pill and government cheese.

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    Mute Luca Costa
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:38 PM

    Better get out my copy of Don’t Stop Me Now and my snooker cues. Bring it on!!!

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    Mute Yer auld one
    Favourite Yer auld one
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:55 PM

    Have you seen the specimens dragging themselves around the Liffey boardwalk! The Walking Dead don’t have a patch these dudes. Since they closed the section of boardwalk along Eden Quay it’s let them wander!!!!

    37
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    Mute Rory Mcloughlin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:37 PM

    Take a walk around Kilkenny on a Saturday night after 1am and you can see one quite clearly ;-)

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    Mute cornflaker
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:49 PM

    i remember walking around a lingerie shop a few years back in stephens green shopping centre near valentines day looking for a gift for the mrs. a lot of lads were doing the same thing. as i was browsing i saw the cashier say to her colleague with a look of digust “look at them, walking around with their mouths open like a bunch of f*%kin zombies…animals” jaysus.

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    Mute Elbbit
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    Oct 30th 2012, 9:31 PM

    for those outside the capital…We have thousands of these zombies wandering the street. it amazing how they defy gravity and stay on there feet..while stringing a few words together takes them minutes….aaaaahhhhh heeeeerrrreeee buuuuud,leeeend uuuuuuussssss aaaaa feeeeewwww eeeeeeuuuurrrrrooooooooo

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:45 PM

    I have my axe and chainsaw ready. Bring it on you undead motherf***ers

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    Mute Daniel R
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:35 PM

    There’s a zombie apocalypse at every bus stop/school/ workplace every Monday morn. B grand sure.

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    Mute Paul Corrigan
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    Oct 30th 2012, 8:44 PM

    Half the passengers on red line LUAS have had this for years

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    Mute Brian Fitzpatrick
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:47 PM

    Setup the cameras in the point village. Best location ever for a zombie movie!

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    Mute James Patrick Smith
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    Oct 31st 2012, 9:26 AM

    I see a lot of Zombies going around in pajamas lately actually I think the Zombies would have more brain power

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    Mute Tommy Omalley
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    Nov 2nd 2012, 1:16 PM

    Ive got an idea for when the zombies attack! We get the car drive to the Winchester get a cup of tea and wait for it to all just blow over

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    Mute George L Rockwell
    Favourite George L Rockwell
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    Oct 31st 2012, 1:27 PM

    It’s not a question of IF but a question of WHEN

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