It’s time to say goodbye to 2014 and hello 2015!
It’s time to get those canapés in the oven, pop some bubbles and get your friends and family around to toast the end of the year in style. And what better way to host your guests then on your Buddabag as you think about your New Year’s resolutions and look ahead to everything the next year might bring.
The Garth Brooks Saga
It was the saga that just wouldn’t end and divided the country almost as much as when Roy Keane walked out on the Irish team in the World Cup back in 2002… Garth initially sold out an amazing five nights in Croke Park, but after residents lodged a legal objection to the five concerts, things got messy. There was much ‘to-ing’ and ‘fro-ing’.
It was on, it was off, it was on again and then it was off again
There were rumoured interventions from both Enda and Barack, then there was THAT press conference where Garth said: ‘If the prime minister himself wants to talk to me, I will crawl, swim; I will fly over there this weekend and sit in front of him. I will drop on my knees and beg for those 400,000 people to just let them have fun and let them come see [the shows]” he added. But after Dublin City Council said it would allow two matinees to make up for the gigs not granted a licence, Garth still decided to pull the plug on the whole lot leaving his fans devastated…
The Ice Bucket Challenge
It was the charity fundraiser that became a social media phenomenon and it dominated the end of the summer as everyone from Tom Cruise to George Hook took on the challenge and raised bucket loads (see what we did there!) of money for Motor Neurone Disease. And while it was great to see celebs getting involved, one of the most watched Irish attempts was this one by Teresina Bell who inadvertently became an internet sensation with her very funny water challenge fail! And don’t worry she posted afterwards to say she’s fine! Still looked sore though!
The World Cup
While Ireland weren’t in the running, the country was still enveloped in a Samba-style soccer wave as Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup! We got cosy in our Buddabags and watched as many teams fell by the wayside. We watched that Luis Suarez biting incident and lamented as Brazil just couldn’t make it to the final. In the end, it was Germany who won the tournament and took their fourth title in a 1-0 victory over Argentina. But for most Irish viewers what we’ll really remember is legendary sports broadcaster Bill O’Herlihy’s last ever show. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
‘Okey Doke, we’ll leave it there so.’
Robin Williams
It was one of the saddest moments in showbiz as beloved actor Robin Williams sadly ended his own life on August 11th. The outpouring of grief was immense and the internet was awash with fans and fellow actors who paid tribute to the amazingly funny, kind and generous man they’d grown up watching on the big screen. But perhaps it was US President Barack Obama who put it best in his statement after the actor died, he said – ‘Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.’
Well said! Here’s a reminder of one of his most famous roles as Mrs Doubtfire
Bye Bye BOD
One of our greatest sporting heroes Brian O’Driscoll called time on his Irish international Rugby career which saw him lead Ireland to victory in the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009 and numerous Triple Crowns over his career. But on 8th March after our 46-7 victory over Italy, we saw the mighty BOD walk off the pitch at Lansdowne road for his last game in a green shirt on Irish soil. A wonderful sports man, role model and all round legend, he was aptly voted man of the match one last time. His last ever international match came a week later in Paris in the finale of the 2014 Six Nations Championship which saw Ireland crowned the winners, but it’s the post-match interview from his last home game which will leave you with a lump in your throat.