2014 in pictures and quotes (May - August)

A look back at the spring and summer of 2014

MAY

“While I have never disassociated (sic) myself from the IRA, and I never will, I am innocent of any part in the abduction, killing or burial of Mrs McConville.”

— Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams after he was arrested in connection with the abduction and murder in December 1972 of Jean McConville.

“There is no indication that Peaches intended to take her own life or harm herself in any way, as she was reported to be of happy disposition and planning for the future with friends and family.”

— Detective Chief Inspector Paul Fotheringham, at an inquest into Peaches Geldof’s death. She died of a drugs overdose.

“It is his feeling as a minister that this finding of the senior counsel of inadequate use of his statutory responsibilities requires him to tender his resignation.”

— Taoiseach Enda Kenny announcing to the Dáil the resignation of Justice Minister Alan Shatter following a report by senior counsel Sean Guerin showing a departmental failure to deal adequately with allegations of malpractice, corruption and falsification of records within the Garda.

“We booked a weekend break to one of the most romantic cities in the world. I just knew the time was right. So, with a thumping heart and a view of the Eiffel Tower, I took out the ring and said those very real words — ‘Will you marry me?”

— Celebrity TV chef Donal Sheehan on getting engaged to Swedish girlfriend Sofie Larsson.

“She knitted for the Pope, she knitted for the Queen, and she received thank-you letters from both of them.”

— Fr Brian Logue at the funeral of singer Daniel O’Donnell’s mother, Julia.

“If some citizens hear prayers that make them feel excluded and disrespected, they should ignore them. Adults often encounter speech they find disagreeable.”

— Justice Anthony Kennedy of the US Supreme Court after it upheld the holding of Christian prayers at city council and public meetings.

“The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had.”

— Golfer Rory McIlroy ending his relationships with fiancée Caroline Wozniacki.

“I deeply regret the loss of good public representatives and the defeat of outstanding Labour candidates last Friday.”

— Eamon Gilmore announcing his resignation as Labour Party leader following huge losses in the local elections.

JUNE

“Watching this Irish Hurling on Sky Sports confirms my belief that the Irish are mental.”

— Sam van der Aalst in a Tweet after hurling made its British debut on Sky Sports.

“It is very fast. A wonderful game.”

— Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to GAA president Liam O’Neill on watching hurling on Sky Sports.

“The indications are that, if something happened in Tuam, it probably happened in other mother-and-baby homes around the country.”

— Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin calling for a nationwide independent inquiry after the revelation that 796 children died at a mother-and-baby home in Tuam.

“At the highest level of Government, I would say government ministers are livid at what has happened.”

— Labour senator John Whelan voicing a split in the Coalition over how the Taoiseach packed the Oireachtas inquiry into the banking collapse with government members.

“His Majesty King Juan Carlos has just informed me of his desire to renounce the throne and begin the process of succession.”

— Spanish prime minister Mariano Rahoy on the decision by the 79-year-old monarch to renounce the throne.

“I’m very, very sorry for the offence I’m sure I caused to some people. It won’t happen again.”

— RTÉ soccer pundit Eamon Dunphy apologising to viewers after swearing on live TV during World Cup coverage.

“I think the difference between doing it in front of a live audience and doing it in a movie, is that doing it in a movie is kind of like getting a professional physio to do a massage for you, but by doing it in front of a live audience, you’re getting an instant gratification — like a massage with a happy ending.”

— Comedian Brendan O’Carroll on the release of the movie version of his TV show Mrs Brown’s Boys.

“Sufficient factual evidence exists that unknown members of the US intelligence services spied on the mobile phone of Chancellor Angela Merkel.”

— Federal prosecutor Harald Range announcing that Germany is to investigate allegations that the US government bugged Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone.

“John Banville’s prose opens us up to dazzling lyrical spaces through cultural references where classic myths are revitalised and beauty accompanies irony.”

— Jury president José Manuel Blecua Perdices announcing the Irish writer was the winner of the 2014 Prince of Asturias Award for literature.

JULY

“To use flags hailing a hate group such as the KKK is sickening. It is essential that every right-thinking person unites against those who engage in racist, bigoted or otherwise intolerant behaviour and does so with consistency.”

— East Belfast MP Naomi Long condemning those who put up the symbol of the Klu Klux Klan, accusing them of heightening racist tensions in her constituency.

“The justice system is investigating and will follow this through to the end. Nicolas Sarkozy can face justice just like anyone else.”

— Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll after the former French president was arrested for questioning over alleged influence peddling. He was later charged with corruption.

“What Mr Harris took from me was my very essence. I believe that it was for Mr Harris a forgettable moment but it was something for me I will never move on from. I know the person I am today is not the person I should have been.”

— Victim Tonya Lee who was sexually abused by Australian entertainer Rolf Harris.

“For us, it is five shows or none at all. To choose which shows to do and which shows not to do, would be like asking to choose one child over another.”

— Entertainer Garth Brooks issues an ultimatum that he will play five concerts in Ireland or “none at all”. After Dublin City Council’s refused to grant a licence for two extra shows, he cancelled all concerts.

“Garth Brooks can’t do five concerts in a row, Kerry couldn’t do five in a row in the football, but by God we will complete the full five years.”

— Kerry TD Arthur Spring insisting that the Government will fulfil its five-year term.

“It’s incredible. The team did it beautifully. At some point we’ll stop celebrating but we’ll still wake up with a smile.”

— German goalkeeper Manual Neuer after his team won the World Cup, defeating Argentina.

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Ireland seems not to be open to reviewing this case. It might be of use to tell us why you are so reticent in examining this head on.”

— A member of the UN Human Rights committee criticising the Irish Government for refusing to accept any responsibility for the years of abuse and neglect suffered by Irish women and children.

“What happened was homemade. It was your decision to guarantee the banks. It was your property bubble.”

— German MP Joachim Pfeiffer, ruling out the Government getting a deal on the €64bn bank bailout.

AUGUST

“The scale of the ebola outbreak, and the persistent threat it poses, requires WHO and Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to take the response to a new level, and this will require increased resources.”

— WHO director general Margaret Chan after an increase in the number of cases and the death toll from the disease placed poor health facilities under strain.

“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.”

— US President Barack Obama, paying tribute to actor and comedian Robin Williams who took his own life at his home in California.

“It’s moments like this, like being in the Rose of Tralee, that make you really seize the day and appreciate life and take everything as it comes.”

— Philadelphia Rose Maria Walsh paying tribute to her Irish cousin Teresa Molloy who died in a car crash in 2009. She went on to win the 2014 contest.

“I will happily take my ice shower in exchange for pledges of at least €1,000.”

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— RTÉ’s Sharon Ní Bheoláin undergoing the Ice Bucket Challenge in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association.

“He displayed admirable negotiating skills in his dealings with John Major, with whom he had a very special relationship, in bringing President Clinton to play an important role in the peace process, and in his dealings with Sinn Féin/IRA, which brought about the 1994 ceasefire, without which a solution would not have been arrived at.”

— Former Labour Party leader and tánaiste Dick Spring paying tribute to former taoiseach Albert Reynolds who died aged 81.

“Be giving of yourself to others. If you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.”

— One of Pope Francis’ top 10 tips for achieving happiness.

“This represents a brain drain and will inhibit our economic recovery.”

— The National Youth Council of Ireland expressing concern at the latest CSO figures which show that most people emigrating from Ireland are experienced workers or university graduates.

“If we’re going to have justice, we must first have and maintain peace. The eyes of the world are watching.”

— Missouri governor Jay Nixon, declaring a state of emergency and imposing a curfew in the city of Ferguson following protests after black teenager Michael Brown was shot and killed by a white police officer.