The people who raised us up

It wasn't all doom and gloom this year – some people brought us to new and ever more exciting heights, writes Róisín Ingle

MARY BYRNE

The 50-year-old with the big voice was working on the tills at the Ballyfermot branch of a certain well-known supermarket when an X Factor audition changed her life. The “from scanning sausages to stardom” narrative couldn’t have been more perfect for the reality TV genre and, with the votes of Irish people being counted for the first time, we got behind the diva from Ballyfermot in our droves.

"It's like the World Cup around here when she's on the telly," said a barman in her local pub. Musically, it has to be said, she peaked early with a stonking version of It's A Man's Man's Man's World. Channeling everyone from Tom Jones to Shirley Bassey, May B (Ireland's answer to Su Bo) eventually came a respectable fourth in the competition, making a nation proud. (She doesn't expect to be back behind the till at a certain supermarket though. Ever.)

KATIE TAYLOR

Irish boxing’s golden girl took her third world title in Barbados earlier this year and returned home to a hero’s welcome. It represented her 100th win in 106 fights, an impressive tally for the hardworking and down-to-earth woman from Bray, Co Wicklow. She won the title last September after outclassing China’s Cheng Dong. At the time, Labour TD for Wicklow Liz McManus said Taylor must now be considered among the greatest Irish sports figures. “Katie has never let success go to her head and she remains as much of a role model and inspiration to youngsters as ever. The people of Bray are quite rightly proud of this great woman.”

BENHAFFAF TWINS

Last May, former conjoined twins Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf were flown home to Cork by Irish army aircraft just six weeks after undergoing a successful 14-hour operation to separate them at Great Ormond Street Hospital. A statement from the family said the boys had brought out the best in everyone and reminded us of the important things in life: “Family, unconditional love and, above all, hope”. The boys were five months old when they were separated. “Hassan and Hussein have gone through so much in their young lives already and now we hope that we can give them the happy future they both deserve” said the family on arriving home. And so said all of us.

GRAEME McDOWELL and  RORY McILROY 

These two Irish sportsmen set the golfing world alight during the year. Portrush man McDowell followed successes that included the US and Wales Open with a win at the Andalucia Masters becoming number 10 in the world, up 41 places from his previous position.

With wins including the Wells Fargo Championship and his first Ryder Cup win under his belt, Co Down’s McIlroy climbed one place ahead of him, making it to number nine. Two likeable sporting ambassadors from this Island taking their places among the golfing world’s top ten players provided something to smile about.

THE RUBBERBANDITS

In case you haven’t heard, they’ve got a Horse Outside, plastic bags on their faces and a vast repertoire of demon Michael Jacksonesque dance moves. The hip hop duo from Limerick went viral with their piercing social commentary about the virtues of equine versus motorized modes of transport.

It all culminated in a classic Liveline programme where people called in to complain about the vulgarity of the song. Limerick TD Willie O’Dea leapt to the defence of the duo despite being lampooned by them himself in another of their songs. “They portray me selling hash and swearing on my tache that it’s decent hash,” he told Joe Duffy as a nation split its sides. The YouTube video had nearly three million views at the time of writing.

RICHIE BANEHAM

Dubliner Baneham, a graduate of the Ballyfermot College gave us something to cheer about when he landed an Oscar for Best Achievement for Visual Effect on James Cameron’s Avatar. The father of three worked 16-hour days for the guts of four years on the tale of the blue-skinned Na’vi people and their clash with humans. He also landed a Bafta for his trouble. The gongs are on the mantelpiece at his home in LA except, apparently, when his young sons use them as toy weapons.

CRYSTAL SWING

While this category defying brother/sister/mother musical combo made some of us cringe there is no getting away from the fact that Crystal Swing gave even more of us a big laugh in 2010. The video of He Drinks Tequilabecame a YouTube sensation and the next thing the east Cork combo knew they were off to LA for a guest appearance on the Ellen DeGeneresShow. The trio are still knocking around either touring or filling up sofas on RTÉ chat shows – Mammy Mary on keyboards, sister Dervla on vocals and brother Derek on vocals plus "kerrazy" Dad-style dancing. "If loving Crystal Swing is wrong, then I don't want to be right," said DeGeneres during the year. It was a big bowl of wrong Ellen, love, but we know what you meant.