Frank McNally tests your knowledge of the talking points and major events of 2004.
A NASA Mars mission sent pictures back to earth, as part of a project to do what?
(a) Convince Northern unionists that Mars was genuine.
(b) Extract a ransom from the British government for the safe return of the missing Beagle probe
(c) Map the planet's surface
There was amusement at an Ireland-Australia international rules match in Croke Park when what ran onto the pitch and chased the ball for several minutes, barking?
(a) A priest in a kilt
(b) A revenge-crazed Brazilian marathon runner
(c) A Jack Russell terrier
Who emerged from a giant pit in Whitehall, North Dublin, after the biggest digging project Ireland has ever seen?
(a) The Mountjoy Prison Escape Committee
(b) General de Chastelain
(c) The Port Tunnel excavation team
Micheál Martin bravely banned what from Irish workplaces, after studies showed that even passive exposure to it was harmful?
(1) The Cork accent
(2) Modern management theory
(3) Smoking
There was huge excitement among the international scientific community after the discovery in a remote Indonesian cave of:
(a) Tupperware
(b) Waterford Crystal's urine sample
(c) The remains of a previously unknown hominid
Royston Brady's European Election campaign got off to a shaky start when, during a radio quiz, he could name only two:
(a) Letters of the Alphabet
(b) Members of his immediate family
(c) EU accession states
In an attempt to smarten up his image on becoming Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea has stopped wearing what in public?
(1) Old Spice
(2) Clothes of any kind
(3) Glasses
The British Home Secretary David Blunkett was forced to resign after having an affair with a woman called:
(a) Kimberley
(b) Mikado
(c) Coconut Creams
Bertie Ahern caused controversy by declaring himself one of the few what left?
(a) 1916 proclamation signatories
(b) optimistic Dublin supporters
(c) socialists
There was consternation within the Labour Party over Michael D Higgins's plans to run for:
(1) Clonliffe Harriers
(2) The 5.15 train to Galway
(3) President
The Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, revealed his determination to join what at the earliest opportunity:
(a) The two LUAS lines
(b) The Legion of Mary
(c) The ranks of former ministers
Emergency legislation was required after it emerged that the Government had been taking what, illegally, from patients in long-term public care?
(a) Kidneys
(b) Gold tooth fillings
(c) Pension contributions
Just moments before he scored the goal that beat England in Euro 2004, Zinedine Zidane was seen to do what in the middle of the pitch?
(a) The Michael Flatley solo from Riverdance
(b) Levitate
(c) Throw up
Ireland finished second-last in the Eurovision with a song written by Brian McFadden. But which was the only country to vote for it?
(a) Freedonia
(b) Ukraine (although the vote was later overturned following mass public demonstrations)
(c) The UK
McFadden's current single Irish Son details his abuse at the hands of which group?
(a) The Christian Brothers
(b) Westlife
(c) Eurovision juries