HE MADE THE front cover of Time magazine, came out on top after tough negotiations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and saw two referendums pass successfully.
But 2012 wasn’t all positive for Enda Kenny. It’s been a bumpy road. Let’s take a look.
The Taoiseach’s year begain in Britain, with one of many meetings with his British counterpart David Cameron. They promised to keep Anglo-Irish relations a matter of importance, a promise they have stuck to throughout the year. Kenny later went on to meet a number of victim groups, still searching for answers over the tragedies of the Troubles. Although he met the families of the 10 victims and sole survivor of the Kingsmills massacre, he was criticised for not offering them an apology. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Kenny took some slack for this image of him and the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy joking about on 30 Januaray as Europe’s leaders were participating in serious talks about the debt crisis. Gerry Adams accused him of acting “like an eejit“. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Whatever else, Enda is the most up-for-it Taoiseach in a photocall we’ve had since Bertie and his yellow pants. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Archive/Press Association Images)
It was seen as a bit of a PR coup for Kenny’s party when former athlete Senator Eamon Coughlan announced he was joining Fine Gael. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Another win for Kenny in February as he got Bill Clinton on board to sell Ireland as the best small country in the world in which to do business. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Kenny didn’t want to take China’s Vice President Xi Jinping on in a game of hurling in case he’d embarrass him. He settled for a handshake on 19 Febuary. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
Enda spent NONE of the State’s money on makeup this year. The same could not be said for previous taoisigh. Here, he is getting powdered before a television appearance on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange on 19 March. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
He won’t be breaking up the Obama/Cameron bromance (Obamaron or Cabama, if you will) any time soon but Enda got comfortable in the White House for the annual St. Patrick’s Day visit. (Image: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Fine Gael members admire their leader after he delivered his keynote address at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis on 1 April. (Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Remember when we were all excited for the Euros and loved Trap? Oh. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
One of Kenny’s most serious and troublesome tasks is trying to get Ireland back to work. Here he announces much needed jobs in Baldoyle. (Image: Niall Carson)
Getting the referendum on the Stability Treaty passed was probably Kenny and the Government’s (and Europe’s) biggest phew-moment of the year. (Image: Julien Behal)
There were still occasions for some smiles though, such as at the Punchestown Festival. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
The summer started with campaign smiles for the Stability Treaty and ended with campaign smiles for the Children’s Referendum. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Another adorable photo shoot on the steps of Leinster House. (Image: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
Ireland and Italy continuing to provide headaches to Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who is also the president of the Eurogroup.
Maybe he is trying to break up the bromance? (Image: AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Special treatment in the polling station as Kenny and his wife are given a cuppa and a biscuit (although they are plain ones) on voting day in the EU Fiscal Treaty referendum. (Image: Julien Behal)
As the nation voted on 31 May and the count was underway on 1 June, Kenny had the craic with young members of his constituency and at the Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park.
But he soon got back to business, announcing the Yes result at Government buildings that afternoon. (Image: Peter Morrison/PA Wire)
Later that month, the 50th International Eucharistic Congress came to Croke Park. (Image: Julian Behal/PA Wire)
It was a bloody wet summer. (Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)
More plans for more jobs. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Congratulating Nicole Schappert from the US after her win in the Womens mile at the Morton Pre-Games at Morton Stadium in Dublin on 26 July. (Image: Niall carson/PA Wire)
Getting ready for the London Olympics with Irish Athletes Aileen Morrison and Olive Loughnane on 26 July in Twickenham. (Image: Julian Behal/PA Wire)
Covering all bases with Mitt Romney (just in case) in July. (Image: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Having the chats with Evelyn McCormack, 4, and six-year-old Peig Waters. (Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)
Honouring Ireland's Olympic heroes at a reception in Farmleigh. Kenny was one of the first in to congratulate Irish superhero Katie Taylor. (Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)
Cheers to the new Eirgrid East-West Interconnector in September. (Image: Julian Behal/PA Wire)
The obligatory looking-silly-at-the-National-Ploughing-Championships photo. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
Welcoming home double gold medallists Jason Smyth and Michael McKillop, as well as the rest of the triumphant Irish Paralympian team. (Image: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)
In a stroke of political (luck or genius, depending on how you look at things), Kenny convinced German Chancellor Angela Merkel to make a joint statement, announcing to the world Ireland's financial problems are a "special case", which require special treatment. (Image: AP Photo/Michael Sohn)
Getting people to actually vote on Saturday, 24 November in the Children's Referendum proved more difficult than getting those who did vote to say Yes. The final turnout was a paltry 33.49 per cent. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
Kenny visted Austria as part of Irelands preparations to take over the EU Presidency next year. Chancellor Werner Faymann welcomes him to the federal chancellery in Vienna. (Image: AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
The 11 November was a historic day as he attended a commemoration ceremony at Enniskillen cenotaph, on the 25th anniversary of the IRA Poppy Day bomb attack which claimed the lives of 12 people. He lay a wreath of green laurels (and not the traditional poppies) on behalf of the Government of Ireland. (Image: Paul Faith/PA Wire)
Members of the Palestrina choir on the steps of Government Buildings in Dublin with Taoiseach Enda Kenny to mark the launch of their Christmas Carol Concert at the National Concert Hall on 9 December and to celebrate the fact that Pope Benedict XVI has invited the choir to perform for him. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
The Taoiseach is joined by Gerry Adams, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, and Micheal Martin at the annual turning on of the Christmas Tree lights at Leinster House, Dublin on 4 December. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
In one of her last duties as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to Dublin for the 19th Ministerial Council of the OSCE. Kenny showed her his Michael Collins. (Image: Julien Behal/PA Wire)
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