Gallery: The Year In Pictures

Updated: 19:22, Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Some of the best photos to have caught our eye in 2011

  • A chilly start to a memorable year for the Dublin hurlers, seen here before the Evening Herald Dublin Blue Stars match at St Brigids Russell Park
    1

    A chilly start to a memorable year for the Dublin hurlers, seen here before the Evening Herald Dublin Blue Stars match at St Brigids Russell Park

  • A group of men perform the traditional Bulgarian 'Horo' dance in the icy wintry waters of the Tundzha river in the town of Kalofer
    2

    A group of men perform the traditional Bulgarian 'Horo' dance in the icy wintry waters of the Tundzha river in the town of Kalofer

  • The walk to work on 12 January in New York City - the morning after another major winter storm
    3

    The walk to work on 12 January in New York City - the morning after another major winter storm

  • Demonstrators place flowers in the barrels of soldiers' guns as Tunisians take to the streets in Tunis
    4

    Demonstrators place flowers in the barrels of soldiers' guns as Tunisians take to the streets in Tunis

  • People jump from a bridge in Northland on Waitangi Day, a public holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand
    5

    People jump from a bridge in Northland on Waitangi Day, a public holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand

  • Micheal Martin speaks to reporters outside Leinster House following Brian Cowen's victory in the Fianna Fáil confidence motion on 18 Jan
    6

    Micheal Martin speaks to reporters outside Leinster House following Brian Cowen's victory in the Fianna Fáil confidence motion on 18 Jan

  • An anti-government demonstrator prays as protests escalate in Cairo
    7

    An anti-government demonstrator prays as protests escalate in Cairo

  • Cambodian soldiers rest on the ruins of the ancient Preah Vihear temple following clashes in Preah Vihear province in Cambodia
    8

    Cambodian soldiers rest on the ruins of the ancient Preah Vihear temple following clashes in Preah Vihear province in Cambodia

  • Six people lost their lives when a flight from Belfast to Cork crashed in heavy fog at Cork Airport in February
    9

    Six people lost their lives when a flight from Belfast to Cork crashed in heavy fog at Cork Airport in February

  • Spectators stand in front a partially inflated Darth Vader hot air balloon at the 16th International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in the Philippines
    10

    Spectators stand in front a partially inflated Darth Vader hot air balloon at the 16th International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in the Philippines

  • Joy in Tahrir Square as Egyptians react to the news that Hosni Mubarak has resigned
    11

    Joy in Tahrir Square as Egyptians react to the news that Hosni Mubarak has resigned

  • Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni tries to break the language barrier at a news conference in Dublin
    12

    Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni tries to break the language barrier at a news conference in Dublin

  • A girl whose family fled violence in Helmand Province plays outside tents for refugees as snow falls in Kabul, Afghanistan
    13

    A girl whose family fled violence in Helmand Province plays outside tents for refugees as snow falls in Kabul, Afghanistan

  • Two stallions confront each other at a horse fighting contest in Rongshui in China
    14

    Two stallions confront each other at a horse fighting contest in Rongshui in China

  • Chinese zoo-keepers dressed as pandas attempt to put Cao Gen the panda cub into a basket as part of a programme to return pandas to the wild
    15

    Chinese zoo-keepers dressed as pandas attempt to put Cao Gen the panda cub into a basket as part of a programme to return pandas to the wild

  • Filming for the popular Afghan cop show 'Separ' (The Shield) in Kabul
    16

    Filming for the popular Afghan cop show 'Separ' (The Shield) in Kabul

  • An official oversees the sorting of votes during Election 2011 at the RDS in Dublin
    17

    An official oversees the sorting of votes during Election 2011 at the RDS in Dublin

  • Final preparations for the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham
    18

    Final preparations for the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham

  • After an earthquake and tsunami devastated the east coast of Japan, a ship is seen sitting on top of a building amid a sea of debris in Iwate
    19

    After an earthquake and tsunami devastated the east coast of Japan, a ship is seen sitting on top of a building amid a sea of debris in Iwate

  • An aerial view of Fukushima nuclear power plant following the explosion prompted by a cooling failure in the reactor
    20

    An aerial view of Fukushima nuclear power plant following the explosion prompted by a cooling failure in the reactor

  • A trawler which came to rest in what was Kensennuma city centre following the massive earthquake and tsunami
    21

    A trawler which came to rest in what was Kensennuma city centre following the massive earthquake and tsunami

  • Fighting intensifies in Libya - here rebels fire Katyusha rockets at government troops on the frontline near Ras Lanuf
    22

    Fighting intensifies in Libya - here rebels fire Katyusha rockets at government troops on the frontline near Ras Lanuf

  • A primary school pupil meets a butterfly at the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London
    23

    A primary school pupil meets a butterfly at the Sensational Butterflies exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London

  • A sling carrying the Clann Na nOilean ferry snaps as it is being loaded onto a freight ship in Galway
    24

    A sling carrying the Clann Na nOilean ferry snaps as it is being loaded onto a freight ship in Galway

  • In South Carolina, a girl decides to jump into a giant bowl of porridge at the World Grits Festival
    25

    In South Carolina, a girl decides to jump into a giant bowl of porridge at the World Grits Festival

  • Anglo Irish Bank signage is removed from the bank's headquarters on St Stephen's Green in Dublin
    26

    Anglo Irish Bank signage is removed from the bank's headquarters on St Stephen's Green in Dublin

  • The British air force performs a flyby over Buckingham Palace as part of the British royal wedding celebrations in London
    27

    The British air force performs a flyby over Buckingham Palace as part of the British royal wedding celebrations in London

  • Osama bin Laden was killed in early May - an operation closely followed in the White House situation room
    28

    Osama bin Laden was killed in early May - an operation closely followed in the White House situation room

  • Queen Elizabeth II visits Ireland and is seen here enjoying herself at the English Market in Cork
    29

    Queen Elizabeth II visits Ireland and is seen here enjoying herself at the English Market in Cork

  • In the same week, thousands turned out to see US President Barack Obama speak during a public rally in College Green in Dublin
    30

    In the same week, thousands turned out to see US President Barack Obama speak during a public rally in College Green in Dublin

  • The US President also enjoyed a pint in Moneygall during his visit
    31

    The US President also enjoyed a pint in Moneygall during his visit

  • Taoiseach Enda Kenny reports for duty as Aer Lingus celebrates its 75th anniversary at Dublin Airport
    32

    Taoiseach Enda Kenny reports for duty as Aer Lingus celebrates its 75th anniversary at Dublin Airport

  • A photo taken from the International Space Station as the shuttle Endeavour goes through the undocking process above the Earth
    33

    A photo taken from the International Space Station as the shuttle Endeavour goes through the undocking process above the Earth

  • A South Korean tank fires smoke shells during a joint military drill between South Korea and the US in Paju
    34

    A South Korean tank fires smoke shells during a joint military drill between South Korea and the US in Paju

  • In a photo that became a viral hit, a couple kiss during riots after the Vancouver hockey team lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup
    35

    In a photo that became a viral hit, a couple kiss during riots after the Vancouver hockey team lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup

  • A woman tries to shield herself as a bus passes through floods following heavy rain in Hubei Province, China
    36

    A woman tries to shield herself as a bus passes through floods following heavy rain in Hubei Province, China

  • Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the tenth hole during his final round of the 111th US Open in Maryland
    37

    Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the tenth hole during his final round of the 111th US Open in Maryland

  • The space shuttle blasts off for the final time from launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral
    38

    The space shuttle blasts off for the final time from launch pad 39A at Cape Canaveral

  • A packed Fitzgerald Statium in Killarney awaits the Munster Final between Cork and Kerry
    39

    A packed Fitzgerald Statium in Killarney awaits the Munster Final between Cork and Kerry

  • Passers-by rush to help those injured, moments after a huge bomb blast in Oslo on 22 July
    40

    Passers-by rush to help those injured, moments after a huge bomb blast in Oslo on 22 July

  • A bull chases spectators into the sea during the 'Bous a la Mar' festival in Denia in Spain
    41

    A bull chases spectators into the sea during the 'Bous a la Mar' festival in Denia in Spain

  • Edickson Contreras of Venezuela competes at the world diving championships in Shanghai, China
    42

    Edickson Contreras of Venezuela competes at the world diving championships in Shanghai, China

  • Starlin Castro of the Cubs shatters his bat in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Wrigley field in Chicago
    43

    Starlin Castro of the Cubs shatters his bat in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Wrigley field in Chicago

  • Boys jump from the harbour wall at Viking Bay in Broadstairs, England
    44

    Boys jump from the harbour wall at Viking Bay in Broadstairs, England

  • Ned Lanigan from Kilkenny in confident mood ahead of the All-Ireland hurling semi-final with Waterford in Dublin
    45

    Ned Lanigan from Kilkenny in confident mood ahead of the All-Ireland hurling semi-final with Waterford in Dublin

  • Buildings burn on Tottenham High Road as London is hit by widespread riots in early August
    46

    Buildings burn on Tottenham High Road as London is hit by widespread riots in early August

  • A Ugandan AU soldier guards a street in the infamous Bakara market in Mogadishu in Somalia
    47

    A Ugandan AU soldier guards a street in the infamous Bakara market in Mogadishu in Somalia

  • US Army soldiers try to sleep while on an early morning C-130 transport flight to Jalalabad, Afghanistan
    48

    US Army soldiers try to sleep while on an early morning C-130 transport flight to Jalalabad, Afghanistan

  • A determined surfer paddles out to catch a wave before Hurricane Irene arrives in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
    49

    A determined surfer paddles out to catch a wave before Hurricane Irene arrives in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

  • A woman covers her head during an afternoon shower on 25 August in New York City
    50

    A woman covers her head during an afternoon shower on 25 August in New York City

  • The spectacular backdrop to an Irish training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand
    51

    The spectacular backdrop to an Irish training session ahead of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand

  • Alan Kelly congratulates Richard Dunne on a great performance after Ireland earned an unlikely draw in Moscow
    52

    Alan Kelly congratulates Richard Dunne on a great performance after Ireland earned an unlikely draw in Moscow

  • Beams light up the sky ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York
    53

    Beams light up the sky ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York

  • Hill 16 celebrates as Dublin win the All Ireland football title for the first time since 1995
    54

    Hill 16 celebrates as Dublin win the All Ireland football title for the first time since 1995

  • A child plays on a rope at Dale Farm Travellers camp near Basildon, England
    55

    A child plays on a rope at Dale Farm Travellers camp near Basildon, England

  • A security man reluctantly tackles a streaker at the Ireland vs Russia rugby clash in New Zealand
    56

    A security man reluctantly tackles a streaker at the Ireland vs Russia rugby clash in New Zealand

  • Michael D Higgins is elected Ireland's ninth president in November
    57

    Michael D Higgins is elected Ireland's ninth president in November

  • Tourists meet Occupy London protesters outside St Paul's Cathedral in London.
    58

    Tourists meet Occupy London protesters outside St Paul's Cathedral in London.

  • Thanksgiving dinner for ring tailed lemurs at the San Francisco Zoo
    59

    Thanksgiving dinner for ring tailed lemurs at the San Francisco Zoo

  • The North Carolina Tar Heels play against the Michigan State Spartans on board the USS Carl Vinson
    60

    The North Carolina Tar Heels play against the Michigan State Spartans on board the USS Carl Vinson

  • A Shia worshiper cuts his scalp during an Ashura commemoration ceremony in Baghdad
    61

    A Shia worshiper cuts his scalp during an Ashura commemoration ceremony in Baghdad

  • Amir Khan hangs over the ropes as Lamont Peterson is held back by the referee during their title fight at the Washington Convention Centre
    62

    Amir Khan hangs over the ropes as Lamont Peterson is held back by the referee during their title fight at the Washington Convention Centre

  • The view from below at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup on 20 January in Meribel in France
    63

    The view from below at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup on 20 January in Meribel in France

  • Dolphins play in Dublin Bay at sunrise on the Winter Solstice
    64

    Dolphins play in Dublin Bay at sunrise on the Winter Solstice

  • The interior of Salisbury Cathedral is illuminated by trails of candles carried by choristers
    65

    The interior of Salisbury Cathedral is illuminated by trails of candles carried by choristers

  • Carmen Zander poses with her tigers during the Circus Krone Christmas Show in Munich, Germany
    66

    Carmen Zander poses with her tigers during the Circus Krone Christmas Show in Munich, Germany