Picturing 2012

This year was blurry. Pictorially at least. And in many other ways. Not many photos taken, it feels like, and not many uploaded certainly. But some moments of light captured. January began extremely well with dolphins seen from White Rock, off Vico Road in Killiney:

Yes, they were actually that close to shore.

First Fortnight got off to a good start:

Occupy Dame Street was still going, if not strong, at least strongly present:

And plenty of political graffiti tying in with the Carnival of Resistance protesting billions being given by the Irish government to unsecured bondholders:

Closely followed by the day long peaceful occupation of a building by Unlock Nama, which they cleaned up, had cupcakes in and held some informative talks by well-known lecturers:

February was graffiti for Valentine's:

Clowns for Kubler Ross:

And for Anglo:

And graffiti artists making the city a little better:

And too many fires making the city a little worse:

While the Central Bank building at Spencer Dock just burned money with its G energy efficiency certificate:

A visit to the Grand Canal Docks, strangely a spot there I'd never been to before:

March an inspiring trip into Carrowkeel passage tombs:

A rendering of 'Romantic Ireland' by street artists:

But mainly March the sadness was Occupy Dame Street getting quite brutally evicted. From this:

To this:

In one morning.

April the Better Fashion week, sustainable clothing shop and all that went with it:

With Reclaim the Streets making a welcome comeback on the same day:

May the graffiti jam at the Tivoli:

Another fire:

And a street feast:

June was mainly all about a new little person, not pictured here, of course. Instead, some of the many great bike journeys of the year:

And Leftfield, the first of many returning-to-my-youth musical experiences in 2012:

July a trip to Galway for a certain film premiere, also caught some of the Arts Festival:

Greg Palast on fracking:

And Mark Boyle burning fivers and talking about alternative economics in Dartmouth Square:

August a month off, and most of all a trip to the Olympics, with all its contradictory wonderfulness:

Fun at the relocated Kings of Concrete:

Though not without its justice-buffing controversy.

September a sun and fun-filled trip to Electric Picnic, with more retro experiences not least The Cure:

And the excellent Festival of Urban Art Sandyford, more graffiti artists improving the city:

October was familial musicality and a brief celebration of the anniversary of Occu-pie:

But then the year became blurred by grief. And there are no pictures for that.

November. Beauty still to be found:

And thousands on the streets to protest:

Followed by the sadness of Savita's death:

December World Aids Day, again the street artists getting the message out:

And then festive traditions - first and foremost, Christmas cheese:

Jumping into the waters of the 40 Foot on Christmas Day:

And just hours ago, not a tradition but very wonderful, fireworks in Stephens Green, lighting up the end of this year:

A year not well-represented by photographs, as so much of what happened was personal and private, both happy and sad. Here's to a more light-filled 2013.