Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FROM THE SEANAD Abolition Referendum to the ‘top up’ payments controversy, the second half of 2013 has certainly been eventful.
We tested your knowledge on the first six months of the year in the first part of our quiz yesterday — let’s see how you get on with the final 60 questions….
[Stephen Chernin/AP/Press Association Images]
1. Picture question! The man above announced back in July that he would be re-entering US politics, five years after resigning over a sex scandal. Who is he?
2. Leo Varadkar said afterwards it had been “like losing a family member” but Enda Kenny said the people in question “know the rules and regulations”. What were they talking about?
3. All 30 people on board were saved in dramatic rescue operation after this ship ran aground off the coast of Kinsale on 24 July. The vessel’s name?
4. “A genuine, technical mistake” is how Labour Chief Whip Emmet Stagg described what his colleague Deputy Michael McNamara had just done in the Dáil. This was during a vote on the Protection of Life Bill. What was the mistake?
5. Speaking of mistakes, Fine Gael said there was ‘no malice involved’ after an incident in the Dáil involving party TD Tom Barry and a female colleague. What had he done?
6. In the US, Rolling Stone magazine came in for heavy criticism for their choice of cover image. Why?
7. This Fine Gael TD from Dublin was appointed as the New Minister of State for European Affairs. His name, please?
8. During a debate on the abolition of the Seanad, Fianna Fáil senator Terry Leyden got himself into hot water by describing Hitler and Mussolini as… what?
9. One of the main stars of ‘Not the Nine O’Clock News’ — this comedian, producer and movie director died in July, aged 60. His name?
10. In spite of once referring to a sitting French president as a “wanker” this well-known Southside Dublin resident picked up that country’s highest cultural honour in July. Who are we talking about?
[Evan Vucci/AP/Press Association Images]
1. Barack Obama gave a major public speech on the steps of Washington’s Lincoln Memorial (above). What anniversary was he marking?
2. This Pakistani campaigner became the latest recipient of the Tipperary Peace Prize. Her name, please?
3. In the UK, politician Godfrey Bloom got himself in trouble for referring to ‘Bongo Bongo Land’. Which political party is he a member of?
4. Veteran current affairs presenter Vincent Browne took on his biggest opponent so far in a six-part TV3 series that began in August. Who?
5. The Government began a recruitment campaign to hire a new Ombudsman. Who were they seeking to replace?
6. Some 400,000 Dubliners had to make alternative plans to get to work. Why?
7. Stephen Fry wrote an open letter to Vladimir Putin, criticising his anti-gay policies and calling for a major world event to be moved from Russia. What event?
8. 63 people were arrested for public order offences during a concert at Slane Castle on 17 August. Who was headlining?
9. The author of ‘Get Shorty’ and ‘Rum Punch’ (later adapted into the movie Jackie Brown) this US author died on 20 August, aged 87…
10. This 55-year-old Scottish actor was named by the BBC as the new ‘Doctor’. Who?
[Photocall Ireland]
1. Pictured above is the new bridge over the River Liffey. Its name was decided in September: who is it to be called after?
2. Which high-profile newspaper columnist spent around two hours in Wheatfield Prison after he refused to pay a parking fine on a point of principle?
3. A former Fianna Fáil TD (and grandson of one of the party’s founders) jumped ship and joined Sinn Féin. Who?
4. It emerged that this Dun Laoghaire native could become the first Irishman in space, after he was offered a spot on a commercial trip by the Space Expedition Corporation. Who?
5. Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli left their positions as manager and assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland ‘by mutual consent’. But how long had they been in charge?
6. In the US, the CEO of Starbucks made a (seemingly pretty reasonable) request that customers leave certain items at home when they come in for a coffee. What?
7. After venues in Dublin pulled out, a controversial ‘child beauty’ contest run by a Texas-based company eventually went ahead in a pub beer garden. In what county?
8. This world-renowned broadcaster, perhaps best known for his interviews with Richard Nixon, died aged 74. His name, please?
9. Paul Simon wrote that this Irishman’s “directness and simplicity” was “a virtue most writers aspire to but rarely achieve”. To whom was he referring?
10. An Irish group were named as one of the 12 acts in contention for a Mercury Music Prize. Who?
[Photocall Ireland]
1. German spy chiefs traveled to Washington to demand answers, following allegations concerning Chancellor Angela Merkel. What specific claim were they looking into?
2. The royal baby was christened in London. What’s his name?
3. Senator David Norris parted company with something that had been part of his life for 40 years — all in the name of cancer research. What?
4. After a €1 increase in excise on wine in last year’s Budget, a further increase was announced by Finance Minister Micheal Noonan in Budget 2014. How much?
5. Ryanair said it would bring a further 1,000,000 passengers into Ireland next year as a result of a specific measure announced in the Budget. Why were they so optimistic?
6. An incident in first few minutes of the new series of crime drama Love/Hate led to widespread criticism from animal rights groups. What happened?
7. This outspoken Dublin South politician resigned from Fine Gael after handing in a letter to the Taoiseach. He had already been expelled from the parliamentary party. Who?
8. Féinphic was added to the Irish language dictionary Focal.ie. The English translation of the word has been in the news quite a bit this year: what is it?
9. Writer of ‘Perfect Day’ and ‘Satellite of Love’ amongst many other rock classics, this musical icon passed away, aged 71…
10. It was revealed that this Irish actor — who has some previous experience portraying politicians — would be playing Charlie Haughey in a new drama. Who?
[AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]
1. In the US, a city’s citizens got together to make dreams come true for five-year-old Miles Scott, AKA ‘Batkid’. Which city?
2. It was announced that Michael D Higgins would make the first state visit by a sitting Irish president — to which country?
3. A new phrase began to sweep the US news networks; please complete it: “Crack-smoking Mayor of Toronto __ ___”.
4. Which media company announced plans to have a new national TV station on air in 2015 and go “head to head with RTÉ and TV3″.
5. Michael Noonan declared 7 November a “red letter day”. Why?
6. It was announced that Brian O’Driscoll and Father Peter McVerry would join the likes of U2 and Nelson Mandela in receiving which honour?
7. Sports Minister Leo Varadkar said he was “very confident” Ireland would bid for the this major tournament. What event was he talking about?
8. After months off the air, this broadcaster received widespread praise for speaking frankly about his depression as he returned to his weekday radio slot. Who are we talking about?
9. TV3 announced they would be commissioning a series about a well-known Irish political dynasty, after 570,000 tuned in to watch a one-off fly-on-the-wall documentary. What family?
10. Terry Jones said he hoped to be “able to pay off my mortgage” as a result of the new live dates being performed by Monty Python. Can you name three other members of the comedy troupe?
DECEMBER
[Photocall Ireland]
1. At the Mandela memorial service, Barack Obama was criticised for taking a ‘selfie’ with David Cameron and the prime minister of which country?
2. After tweeting that “fortune favours the brave” this politician confirmed he would be joining the Fianna Fáil benches and becoming the party’s newest TD. Who?
3. On Sunday 15 December, RTÉ aired ‘Room to Improve’ ten minutes later than its scheduled 9.30pm start. Why?
4. “I’m dating a guy and I couldn’t be happier”: This British athlete received widespread praise from campaign groups after he posted a ‘coming out’ message on Youtube. Who?
5. An Taisce began a court challenge in London over the British Government’s decision to build… what?
6. Ireland topped a list in Forbes magazine, rising six places. What was the poll measuring?
7. Which TD introduced the Dáil to the word ‘amazeballs’ (or as he put it ‘amazey-balls’)?
8. The four members of U2 paid tribute to his “extraordinary leadership, guidance and friendship”. To whom were they referring?
9. This 40-year-old actor, known for his role in a long-running series of action movies, died in a car crash north of LA…
10. Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ was named on 11 December. Who made the cover?
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Anyone who says the usual nonsense about building it around the M50 clearly doesn’t drive on the M50 regularly.
Dave, I hear the M50 is quiet between 3am and 4am. I personally think they’re fibbing.
In the event of an emergency id be hooring up the hard shoulder and stopping for nobody. Its easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. :-)
Dave this is a maternity hospital who services South Dublin. It’s a perfect location.
@Dave Harris: more then 2/3rds ot the poulation live outside of dublin, it;s the national childrens hospital not the dublin childrens hospital
It is neither of those things, they are talking about the national MATERNITY hospital….
Serious joke yet again. Why the likes of Blanchardstown and Tallaght hospitals were,’t given preference for the maternity and childrens hospitals is beyond me. They have more than adequit land and travel facilitys.
Can’t fathom that either. Surely cheaper land and far easier to travel to and park the further from Dublin. Bad enough for a couple of births, but a Children’s hospital will have many repeat visitors per family.
Because the high flyers who run these hospitals don’t live in Tallaght or Blanchardstown that’s why.
I agree, it should have been moved to the end of my street. Or better still they should build one at the end of everyone’s street
Great that’s just around the corner from my house, better start knocking the wife up
The land is owned by Vincents what you on about
@viking – why would it move to Blanchardstown!? It provides maternity services for Dublin South East and East Wicklow. Are you really that stupid?
The Rotunda Hospital is due to move to Blanchardstown
@The Viking: Not the maternity or children’s hospital, a hospital. there will be more. Blanch and tallaght will get theirs, just not this time.
Meanwhile you propose a stripping out of the city centre. coring the heart and installing stand alone drive through only monstrosities as far from the centre as possible.
How far out do you need to live before you can stop being ashamed of being a Dub?
@The Viking:, there’s more to a hospital than just parking and roads. Blanch was ruled out as a collocation site for the children’s hospital because it’s *not as good medically*. Maybe it’s just me but the quality and experience of the doctors and nursing staff beat parking and traffic considerations any day.
A Dub ? … The clue is in the name : National. As in, everywhere outside Dublin as well. There’s more to Ireland than bloody coddle & chips. …
@Platypus Parcel: is this the national childrens hospital or the south dublin childrens hospital ? im sure youre not aware but theres a whole world outside south dublin
It’s just called that, the rotunda I’d due to move to blanch and the combe to James or tallaght. People getting very hot up when they clearly don’t understand how the maternity hospitals work, and also that this article is not about the children’s hospital!!
Co-location is no longer considered necessary by international standards. Maybe the children’s hospital location should now be reconsidered
Shame they couldn’t refurbish holles st. It’s a wonderful old building full of character that will probably be sold off to one of the law firms.
Character doesn’t make a good hospital…
A wonderful old building. That’s the very reason why they are moving.
In saying that myself ant my daughter were both born in the same room. She was born the day after my 30th.
Good post code though
National Maternity Hospital Board meetings will now officially start with a decade of the rosary…
Archbishop of Dublin is already their patron.
@Liam Kennedy: Cos bishops know all about making babies…thought they banished him to south america?
@Get Lost Eircodes: I was also under the impression that the board of St Vincent’s was far more conservative than HS and potentially a source of problems if/when more liberal policies are to be adopted.
Will it actually be built, opened and made operational?
This is a great result for the mothers-to-be in the catchment of the NMH. The co-location with SVUH guarantees better patient outcomes for emergency cases, as well as better transport options for routine cases.
The “National Maternity Hospital” is a somewhat inflated title. It is the largest maternity hospital in the State but its intended catchment is only intended to be south of the Liffey.
The proposed National Children’s Hospital is just that, however, and should be located in the most optimal location to allow accessibility to children (and their parents) from the entire country. It should also be collocates with a general hospital with the necessary skills mix. St. James’s Hospital probably meets the latter criteria, it doesn’t in any way meet the former. In fact, I’d go so far to say St. James’s should be relocated out westward closer to the M50. There is still a requirement within the City centre for acute and emergency care, perhaps these functions could remain within the city in a satellite hospital, but the current location for St. James’s is not fit for purpose as a general hospital, let alone a Children’s Hospital.
what is the point of having a national maternity hospital. We have 19 maternity hospitals in Ireland all doing a great job.
I don’t believe all 19 are doing a great job.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/safety-statements-for-19-maternity-units-published-385219.html
have your say