The big Irish Times christmas quiz

Today's quizmaster: EOIN BUTLER

All today’s general-knowledge questions relate to people and events of 2010.

1.Which former taoiseach appeared in a cupboard this year, saying “never thought I’d end up here, but I’ve got the latest on today’s big match”?

2. X-Factorstar Mary Byrne was previously employed at the Ballyfermot branch of which supermarket chain?

3.Boxer Katie Taylor has also represented Ireland in which sport?

4.Which Canadian singer became the first artist to play the Aviva Stadium when he performed there in September 2010?

5.What film, set in the year 2154, starred Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana and grossed $2.75bn at the box office?

6.What celebrated 60 years on air in 2010, and currently numbers among its stars a chemist from Finglas, a mother from Sixmilebridge, and a fisherman from Enniscorthy?

7.Name the Limerick hip-hop duo who have a Horse Outside.

8.In the 2010 film Eat Pray Love, Julia Roberts’s character visits India, Italy and Indonesia. In which of these countries does she (a) eat (b) pray and (c) love?

9. Which Irish singer appeared on the front of a Sunday newspaper this year apparently claiming “I am the object of desire for young women”?

10. Her great-grandfather was a coal miner. Her second cousin owns a chip shop in Durham in England. Whose poor relations are these?

11. Green Party TD Paul Gogarty caused consternation when he brought what to a press conference in November?

12. Name the veteran Tuam rockers who recorded an a cappella version of their song Red Cortina for charity.

13. Which former BBC sports presenter took over as host of RTÉ’s The Panel this year?

14. Which activist was wanted by Swedish courts for allegedly having “sex by surprise” in 2010?

15. Which cult 1990s rock star wrote the musical score for David Fincher’s The Social Network?

16. Who plays the Native American Jacob Black in the Twilightmovies?

17. The main character in this best-selling 2010 novel is a second-year boarder at the Seabrook College for Boys in south Dublin. Name the book.

18. Put these names in the order in which they had tabloid relationships with glamour model Katie Price: Alex Reid, Peter Andre, Dane Bowers, Dwight Yorke.

19. Who was named the Vodafone Gaelic Footballer of the Year in October, 2010?

20. He was born Don Glen Vliet and his musical acolytes included Frank Zappa and Ry Cooder. By what name was he best known?

21. What nickname is (almost) shared by the customised Harley Davidson motorcycles used in the film Easy Rider and the head of the IMF mission to Ireland?

22. What first name is shared by the New Testament’s most prolific letter writer and the World Cup’s now-deceased psychic octopus?

23. Name the English violinist who had his hotel room raided by German police in September after guests alleged that heroin and cannabis were being taken.

24. Who was reckoned by US diplomats to be the “undisputed” leader of the EU, according to American cables leaked in November?

25. Of the 12 Fianna Fáil senior ministers currently holding office (including Taoiseach Brian Cowen), how many are the son or daughter of a former Fianna Fáil TD?

26. He was born in 1983, educated in Switzerland and is reputed to be a fan of Michael Jordan and Jean-Claude Van Damme. In January 2010, his birthday was celebrated as a national holiday for the first time. What is his name?

27. Name the Irish winner of Ultimate Big Brotherin September.

28. What item found during a routine house clearance in London sold for a record £53 million at auction in November?

29. Name the barrister and independent TD’s daughter appointed to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal on November 11th.

30. Who is the only player to have scored goals in every single Premiership season?

31. Name the Irish television personality who published her autobiography Working The Red Carpet in November.

32. Who was the subject of Michael Hasting’s profile The Runaway General, published in Rolling Stone magazine in July 2010?

33. Name the 15-year-old who scored a worldwide hit with Baby in January 2010.

34. What item belonging to novelist Jonathan Franzen was stolen and held for ransom when the author visited London in October?

35. Name the actress tipped for an Oscar for her performance as Nic in the Lisa Cholodenko film The Kids Are All Right.

36. Who did boxer Willie Casey defeat to win the European Super Bantamweight title in Limerick in November?

37. Which famous English actor, writer and Twitter enthusiast recorded a cameo for TG4's Ros Na Rúnin December this year?

38. What did Jet Blue flight attendant Steven Slater swipe from his plane’s shopping cart moments before making an unscheduled exit down the emergency chute?

39. Name the US Senate candidate who moved to allay voters concerns by assuring them “I am not a witch”.

40. Which former host of Knowing Me, Knowing Youon BBC television returned in November as presenter of North Norfolk Digital radio's Mid-Morning Matters?

41. How many miners were rescued from the San Jose copper-gold mine in Chile on October 12th/13th 2010?

42. How many activists were killed when the Israeli navy stormed the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters on May 31st, 2010?

43. Whose Human Chain collection was hailed by novelist Colm Tóibín as containing some of the poet’s best work in years when it was published in September?

44. Whose broadcasting career began with the 1949 Railway Cup Final and ended with the 2010 International Rules Series in Croke Park?

45. Who is British Prime Minister David Cameron’s controversial communication director and what tabloid newspaper did he formerly edit?

46. Who made headlines in December when he asserted “we all partied”? (a) Hugh Hefner (b) P Diddy or (c) Brian Lenihan?

47. Fox Newsdemagogue and Tea Party champion Glenn Beck is a member of which Christian sect?

48. Which ex-member of the Fugees filed for candidacy in the Haitian presidential election in November?

49. Which country attracted international condemnation when it shelled Yeonpyeong Island on November 23rd?

50. In August, which RTÉ personality ruled herself out of the running to succeed Mary McAleese as president of Ireland next year?

How to enter

Option 1

Fill in the answers to all 100 questions, plus other required details at irishtimes.com/christmasquiz

Option 2

Email your answers to all 100 questions, numbered 1 to 100, with your name, address and contact telephone number, to christmasquiz@irishtimes.com

Option 3

Complete the hardcopy entry form in The Irish Times on December 31st.

Closing date: Noon on January 7th.

Terms and conditions

Entrants must be over 18. Prizes are non-transferable. The judge’s decision is final. Full terms and conditions at irishtimes.com/christmasquiz

The prize

One entrant will win a weekend city break for two people, worth €1,000, to any of three European destinations: Paris, Rome or Vienna.

The prize will include flights, accommodation and a city tour. The winner may choose when they wish to travel but the prize must be availed of in 2011

The week-long quiz

Entrants must answer today’s questions, plus 10 more each day next week. These will be published in the Life Culture pages of The Irish Times in the following categories.

Monday 27thFilm by Donald Clarke

Tuesday 28thPolitics by Miriam Lord

Wednesday 29thCelebrity by Róisín Ingle

Thursday 30thSport by Mary Hannigan

Friday 31stThe World by Ruadhán Mac Cormaic