2024 was marked by historic elections, record spending and sporting success.
Here is a look back at some of the biggest themes and stories in Ireland over the past year.
Rocketing rents
Ireland’s housing crisis showed no sign of abating in 2024. Rents jumped significantly over the last 12 months, continuing a 10-year trend of increases.
Dublin had the highest average rent for new tenancies at €2,084, followed by Galway at €1,684. Limerick city recorded the largest annual increase in rent prices, rising by 13.5 per cent to €1,539.
House building
New home completions slowed during the first months of 2024, putting the Government’s target of 33,450 at risk.
There were 21,664 new dwelling completions between January and September 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office, a fall of 3.1 per cent on the same period in 2023.
A surge in completions took place in the final months of last year – a similar seasonal effect is expected in 2024.
Record homelessness
One of the most severe consequences of the housing crisis is the rising number of people experiencing homelessness.
A new record was set in October when 14,966 people were listed as living in emergency accommodation, including 4,645 children.
Sinn Féin slump
At the outset of the year, Sinn Féin was the clear favourite to be the largest party in the next Dáil.
However, the party’s support cratered during 2024 – falling from 29 per cent support in January to only 18 per cent in October ahead of the general election.
Analysts point to Sinn Féin’s positioning on immigration as one of the key reasons for the party’s fall from favour over the course of the year.
Migration challenges
In line with trends across Europe, the number of people arriving in the State increased significantly in 2024.
More than 16,000 people arrived in the Republic seeking asylum this year, compared to about 11,000 during 2023.
Local elections
The Government parties mostly held their own during the local elections in June, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael securing the most seats in councils.
Despite that, their vote share dropped in many areas compared to the last election in 2019 – a further sign of fragmentation in Irish politics.
The Green Party saw support fall across the country and they lost almost all their councillors.
New Dáil
Ireland got a new political map after November’s general election.
Fianna Fáil was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the 174 seats up for grabs.
However, the new Dáil has the worst gender balance of parliaments in western Europe, with women making up only 25 per cent of TDs.
Overcrowded hospitals
Hospital overcrowding is an issue that successive governments have grappled with.
It often piles major pressure on the HSE during winter, but now healthcare workers say it has become a year-round problem.
More than 121,000 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed in 2024, according to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation.
Road deaths
A total of 175 people died on Irish roads in 2024, a slight decrease on 2023 but above the average from the past 10 years.
Of the 175 deaths, 70 were drivers, 37 pedestrians, 35 passengers, 17 motorcyclists and 11 cyclists. Four users of e-scooters also died as the vehicles continued to rise in popularity.
Tax bonanza
Ireland had one of Europe's healthiest sets of public finances, mainly thanks to a surge in corporate tax revenues paid by a handful of large US multinationals.
Officials projected a massive €25 billion surplus in 2024 and €12 billion in 2025, which came on the back of €8 billion surpluses in the previous two years.
Corporation tax returns are expected to be more than €35 billion in 2024, which is “far in excess” of previous Department of Finance projections.
Butter up
Inflation, the rate at which prices are rising, eased considerably during 2024.
Prices in Ireland went up by 1 per cent on average during the 12 months to November 2024, according to the CSO.
However, some parts of the economy are still experiencing substantial price jumps – as seen with the cost of butter, which is up €0.57 compared to the beginning of the year.
Golden year
Ireland had its most successful Olympic games ever in 2024.
Team Ireland took home four gold and three bronze medals from Paris to secure 19th place in the medal table – up from 39th place in Tokyo and 63rd in Rio.
