Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

€2 a Month €5 a Month One-off amount
Review 2011

The most telling Irish political pictures of 2011

A general election, the implosion of two parties, EU drama and a Presidential campaign – can you picture all that in one year? We tried…
9.15am, 24 Dec 2011
5.3k
7

IF A WEEK is a long time in politics, the year 2011 was a lifetime for Ireland. We saw Fianna Fáil face a leadership challenge and implode, a general election that saw Fine Gael and Labour take power and a band of colourful independents enter Leinster House, fear and loathing in the eurozone and a Presidential election that was at times as bitter and hard-fought as the February campaign.

It’s best to let the photographs do the talking:

The most telling Irish political pictures of 2011
1 / 43

  • Did you sign that?

    Taoiseach Brian Cowen signing his request to President Mary McAleese to dissolve the Dail on 1 February. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland.

  • Fight on his hands

    Fianna Fáil got a new leader in Micheál Martin. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • The Greens are down...

    Green Party leader Joihn Gormley and Senator Dan Boyle after their pre election think-in on 11 January. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

  • ...And they are out.

    Green Party leader John Gormley leads party members out of Government buildings on 23 January, 2011. Pic: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

  • The youth vote

    The Union of Students helped to rally young people to have their say in the general election. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Poster boy

    Socialist Party and United Left Alliance candidate Joe Higgins with his election poster outside the offices of then Anglo Irish Bank. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire.

  • Ah stop now.

    Eamon Gilmore was touted for Taoiseach by the Labour party at the start of the campaign. TheJournal.ie's Gavan Reilly spotted this temporary setback on Golden Lane, Dublin.

  • Down with the kid

    Sinn Féin threw themselves into bagging seats - including one for party leader Gerry Adams seen here with Kaitlyn Leavy, 8. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

  • If the shoe fits...

    Labour's Pat Rabbitte got his new shoe leather sorted before hitting the campaign trail. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • War of independents

    Dylan Haskins was just one of many independents who sought to contest the political landscape in General Election 2011 Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

  • The old guard

    The UpStart non-politicial movement tried to put creativity at the centre of public consciousness during the campaign. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

  • Man with a plan

    Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny survived a leadership coup to take his party to election. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

  • Wanna be in my gang?

    Fine Gael rallied the troops on 30 January at the Mansion House in Dublin. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Pothole politics

    Green Party members wearing Enda Kenny and Jackie Healy-Rae masks - claiming independent might have new stranglehold on the Dáil. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • Ceasefire

    Gerry Adams shares the love with Enda Kenny before the five-way Frontline leaders' debate at RTÉ. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • Never work with children (part 1)

    Enda Kenny meets May Hennelly in Athlone. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • Never work with children (part 2)

    Enda used to be a teacher so he does indeed have eyes on the back of his head. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny/LightCurvePhoto.com

  • Never work with children (part 3)

    Emma Brady, age 8 months, is immortalised in another Enda Kenny GE11 walkabout. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

  • Pizza the action

    It's one in, all in, when the pizza arrives at the RDS count centre on 26 February. We hope it was on Paschal Donohue, FG, centre - he won his seat that day. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

  • Fighting fit?

    A break in the form of a charity football game with FF's Chris Andrews, SF's Aengus O Snodaigh and Cllr Ruadhan MacAodhain. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.

  • The bull wall

    Eoghan Murphy, who later won a seat for FG, scored a photo opp at the end of the South Bull Wall handing a leaflet to a swimmer who also happens to be an FG supporter. Image: Naoise Culhane/Maxwells

  • Eyes down

    Former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald keeps an eye on the Dublin North Central constituency at the RDS count centre. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

  • How do I feel?

    Lucinda Creighton led the charge for Fine Gael, securing Dublin South East. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

  • How did we do?

    Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire.

  • Fianna Fáil implosion

    Fianna Fáil's Pat Carey in the RDS Dublin as it became clear Fianna Fáil would lose all but Brian Lenihan's seat in Dublin. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • A lonely place

    Mary Hanafin was, for a brief time, minister for tourism, culture and sport and for enterprise, trade and innovation, but lost her Dun Laoghaire seat during this count. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Brian Lenihan RIP

    Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan became the only FF TD left in Dublin after the general election. He died of cancer on 10 June. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • In the pink

    Exchanges in the Dáil have often been colourful but after Mick Wallace was caught on mic calling Mary Mitchell-O'Connor 'Miss Piggy' with Shane Ross and Luke Flanagan in on the chat, apologies had to be forthcoming. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

  • Dial tone

    Michael Healy-Rae is asked why €2,600 of phone calls were made from a Leinster House phone to vote for him in Celebrities Go Wild reality TV show. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Don't leave me hanging

    Enda Kenny with other EU leaders back on 24 March. Pic: AP Photo/Michel Euler

  • (Not) the troika

    This one is from 26 November just before David Cameron refused to sign the EU fiscal agreement. Pic: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

  • Smashing presidential pumpkins

    Artist Mark Mcnamara carved Ireland's Presidential candidates into pumpkins - these are Mary Davis and David Norris. Pic: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland

  • Norris is out...

    Speaking of Senator David Norris, he pulled out of the Presidential race in Auguest amid revelations he sought leniency for his ex-partner convicted of statutory rape. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • ... and then he's back in

    Norris resumed the race and secured four council nominations in September to get on the Presidential ballot. Pic:Leon Farrrell/Photocall Ireland

  • All the Presidential men and women

    Gay Mitchell, David Norris, Mary Davis, Sean Gallagher, Martin McGuinness, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Michael D Higgins on nomination day. Pic: Sasko Lazarov /Photocall Ireland

  • Suck it and see

    Sean Gallagher tried his hand as an independent Presidential candidate but a question over fundraising for Fianna Fáil lost him support at the final hurdle. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • Car drama

    Candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon's campaign car suffered a tyre blowout on a motorway. Investigators said the tyres were not vandalised. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • Face-off

    The scene at the Google Silver Surfer awards. Presidential candidates Sean Gallagher, Michael D Higgins, Martin McGuinness. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

  • President Higgins

    Ireland's President elect Michael D Higgins is hugged by his wife Sabina after his election victory is announced. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire

  • The happy President

    President Michael D Higgins inspecting the troops on the day of his inauguration. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland

  • Budget 2012

    Presented by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

  • Budget 2012

    Student protesting the Budget cuts. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

  • Getting political?

    This was the scene of anti-IMF and anti-banking bailout protests outside the Dail on the second day of the Budget announcement. Will 2012 finally be the year of public protest in Ireland? Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Taoiseach Brian Cowen signing his request to President Mary McAleese to dissolve the Dail on 1 February. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland.
  • Fianna Fáil got a new leader in Micheál Martin. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Green Party leader Joihn Gormley and Senator Dan Boyle after their pre election think-in on 11 January. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
  • Green Party leader John Gormley leads party members out of Government buildings on 23 January, 2011. Pic: AP Photo/Peter Morrison
  • The Union of Students helped to rally young people to have their say in the general election. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Socialist Party and United Left Alliance candidate Joe Higgins with his election poster outside the offices of then Anglo Irish Bank. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire.
  • Eamon Gilmore was touted for Taoiseach by the Labour party at the start of the campaign. TheJournal.ie's Gavan Reilly spotted this temporary setback on Golden Lane, Dublin.
  • Sinn Féin threw themselves into bagging seats - including one for party leader Gerry Adams seen here with Kaitlyn Leavy, 8. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Labour's Pat Rabbitte got his new shoe leather sorted before hitting the campaign trail. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Dylan Haskins was just one of many independents who sought to contest the political landscape in General Election 2011 Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • The UpStart non-politicial movement tried to put creativity at the centre of public consciousness during the campaign. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny survived a leadership coup to take his party to election. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • Fine Gael rallied the troops on 30 January at the Mansion House in Dublin. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Green Party members wearing Enda Kenny and Jackie Healy-Rae masks - claiming independent might have new stranglehold on the Dáil. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Gerry Adams shares the love with Enda Kenny before the five-way Frontline leaders' debate at RTÉ. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Enda Kenny meets May Hennelly in Athlone. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Enda used to be a teacher so he does indeed have eyes on the back of his head. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny/LightCurvePhoto.com
  • Emma Brady, age 8 months, is immortalised in another Enda Kenny GE11 walkabout. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • It's one in, all in, when the pizza arrives at the RDS count centre on 26 February. We hope it was on Paschal Donohue, FG, centre - he won his seat that day. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
  • A break in the form of a charity football game with FF's Chris Andrews, SF's Aengus O Snodaigh and Cllr Ruadhan MacAodhain. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
  • Eoghan Murphy, who later won a seat for FG, scored a photo opp at the end of the South Bull Wall handing a leaflet to a swimmer who also happens to be an FG supporter. Image: Naoise Culhane/Maxwells
  • Former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald keeps an eye on the Dublin North Central constituency at the RDS count centre. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
  • Lucinda Creighton led the charge for Fine Gael, securing Dublin South East. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
  • Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire.
  • Fianna Fáil's Pat Carey in the RDS Dublin as it became clear Fianna Fáil would lose all but Brian Lenihan's seat in Dublin. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Mary Hanafin was, for a brief time, minister for tourism, culture and sport and for enterprise, trade and innovation, but lost her Dun Laoghaire seat during this count. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan became the only FF TD left in Dublin after the general election. He died of cancer on 10 June. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Exchanges in the Dáil have often been colourful but after Mick Wallace was caught on mic calling Mary Mitchell-O'Connor 'Miss Piggy' with Shane Ross and Luke Flanagan in on the chat, apologies had to be forthcoming. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Michael Healy-Rae is asked why €2,600 of phone calls were made from a Leinster House phone to vote for him in Celebrities Go Wild reality TV show. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Enda Kenny with other EU leaders back on 24 March. Pic: AP Photo/Michel Euler
  • This one is from 26 November just before David Cameron refused to sign the EU fiscal agreement. Pic: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert
  • Artist Mark Mcnamara carved Ireland's Presidential candidates into pumpkins - these are Mary Davis and David Norris. Pic: Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland
  • Speaking of Senator David Norris, he pulled out of the Presidential race in Auguest amid revelations he sought leniency for his ex-partner convicted of statutory rape. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • Norris resumed the race and secured four council nominations in September to get on the Presidential ballot. Pic:Leon Farrrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Gay Mitchell, David Norris, Mary Davis, Sean Gallagher, Martin McGuinness, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Michael D Higgins on nomination day. Pic: Sasko Lazarov /Photocall Ireland
  • Sean Gallagher tried his hand as an independent Presidential candidate but a question over fundraising for Fianna Fáil lost him support at the final hurdle. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Candidate Dana Rosemary Scallon's campaign car suffered a tyre blowout on a motorway. Investigators said the tyres were not vandalised. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • The scene at the Google Silver Surfer awards. Presidential candidates Sean Gallagher, Michael D Higgins, Martin McGuinness. Pic: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland
  • Ireland's President elect Michael D Higgins is hugged by his wife Sabina after his election victory is announced. Pic: Julien Behal/PA Wire
  • President Michael D Higgins inspecting the troops on the day of his inauguration. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland
  • Presented by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan. Pic: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
  • Student protesting the Budget cuts. Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
  • This was the scene of anti-IMF and anti-banking bailout protests outside the Dail on the second day of the Budget announcement. Will 2012 finally be the year of public protest in Ireland? Pic: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
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.
Learn More Support The Journal

Author
Susan Daly
View 7 comments
Send Tip or Correction
Close
7 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds
    The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie