It was a year in which three of the greats of Irish music died.
In June, Aslan's lead singer, Christy Dignam, passed away aged 63.
A month later, Sinéad O'Connor died at the age of 56.
In November, Shane MacGowan died aged 65.
All gone within six months of each other. Artistically different, all were admired.
"I think Irish people will enter 2024, still feeling the huge sense of loss that three of our greats musicians, artists are no longer part of our everyday lives," says Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press magazine.
"I think the emotions that people feel are impossible to manage, you're sucked into the reality that something life-changing has happened. And in particular, when Sinéad died, there was a sense of national convulsion because for women, in particular, Sinéad was an an enormously important person and people loved her as unique individual," he said.
"With the loss of those three people - Christy Dignam, and then Sinéad and then Shane - I think there's an argument to say, 'God is being a bit greedy. Hang on a bit, we need them a bit longer'," says BP Fallon, who was a friend of Sinéad O'Connor and Shane MacGowan.
"Well losing two friends, it's horrible. Are they gone? Well, they're here in one way or another. It depends what you believe in.
"I'm not just talking about their music that remains, but I'm talking about their presence and also the way they've influence people," he said.
"What's interesting to me is that how the apparent rebels turned into apparent establishment. It's very easily forgotten that the guttersnipe tabloids at the beginning would write about Shane's teeth, not about what a gifted songwriter he was.
"At the beginning all they wrote about was Sinéad's shaven head, not about what a great songwriter and artist she was," he said.
Niall Stokes said that the loss of the trio will be keenly felt.
"There's no doubt that the loss of the artists of the extraordinary calibre of Sinéad O'Connor, Shane MacGowan, and Christy as the front man of Aslan, that does leave a vacuum.
"But what we can take some comfort in is the fact they they have left us the legacy of brilliant music. And all of the young Irish musicians coming through know they can turn to these artists and they can listen and learn from the people who really do rank up there among the most important musicians, songwriters, artists of the last 50 years.
"It's part of an end of era. The golden age of rock 'n roll is gone," BP said, before adding, "Around this of the year, it's very tricky for a lot of people.
"In among the 'Happy Christmas' there are a lot of people who are very sad at Christmas and New Year's because it'll never be the same again. But the thing is, those people who have gone ahead of us, aren't going anywhere where we won't be able to find them."
