It's that time again when we test your knowledge of the news stories of the year. How alert were you in 2001?
1 Dublin West TD Liam Lawlor surprised the press by leaving Mountjoy prison in the back of a what?
a: Helicopter
b: Pantomime horse
c: Gardener's van
2 As fear of a foot-and-mouth gripped the country, the Cabinet expressed solidarity with farmers by meeting where?
a: In a sealed underground bunker
b: The Costa Del Sol
c: Cooley
3 Amid criticisms about the project's taste, the Taoiseach opened what in Dublin's Phoenix Park in July?
a: Deer-shooting season
b: Farmleigh
4 At the G8 Summit in Genoa, Bono caused controversy by embracing:
a: Christianity
b: Larry Mullen Jnr
c: Vladimir Putin
5 There was anger among environmentalists following the discovery of what at a number of sites in Wicklow?
a: Tourists
b: New houses
c: Hospital waste
6 The Taoiseach was said to be alarmed at the National Theatre's plans to move where?
a: Drumcondra
b: Paris
c: The Docklands
7 Irish women made a piece of history in Tehran by attending what?
a: Mass
b: A hen party
c: An international soccer match
8 There was surprise among archaelogists when a time capsule unearthed at the former site of Nelson's Pillar was found to contain:
a: Nelson
b: Nothing at all
9 Cardinal Connell caused controversy by suggesting the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin would not be seen as what within his church?
a: A Protestant
b: An Archbishop
c: A high-flyer
10 Further worrying evidence of global warming emerged, with the discovery in the sea off Donegal of:
a: A swimmer
b: Tory Island
c: Warm-water anchovies
11 Radical trade union leader Mick O'Reilly was controversially suspended from what during the year?
a: The top of Liberty Hall
b: The St Stephen's Green Club
c: The ATGWU
12 Tanaiste Mary Harney and IBEC director Brian Geoghegan surprised friends in November by taking what dramatic step?
a: Endorsing Trocaire's budget submission
b: Recording a duet of Something Stupid
c: Getting married
13 Which Kildare-based facility, trading on the legend of a jolly man famous for his generosity, was the focus of much criticism in December? a: Santa's Kingdom
b: Charlie McCreevy's constituency office
14 Optimistic forecasters predict that the middle of next year will see renewed growth in what?
a: Republic of Ireland striker David Connolly
b: Michael Noonan's hair
c: The economy
15 Which entertainment figure went from strength to strength, ignoring criticisms that he was a shameless self-publicist?
a: Louis Walsh
b: Louis the Fourteenth
16 There was public panic as Joe Jacob unveiled what on live radio?
a: His big hairy chest
b: The fourth secret of Fatima
c: The National Emergency Plan
17 RT╔ axed which long-running Sunday night series, as critics agreed the characters had become tired and irrelevant to many viewers?
a: The Week in Politics
b: Glenroe
18 An understanding judge deferred Liam Lawlor's return to jail to allow him make a prearranged visit to:
a: Confession
b: The dentist
c: New York
19 May I wish a happy new year to:
a: Each
b: Everyone
c: All of the above Of my readers.
fmcnally@irish-times
