It was the year of new faces at the Áras and in the Vatican; of rekindled hope for the Ireland men’s soccer team and potential World Cup glory (at least the glory of maybe getting there this time); of an Irish-speaking rap star landing himself in an English court; of bravery in speaking out against male violence; and of Oasis returning to stadiums and live shows for a record-breaking tour that had the whole world donning bucket hats again.