What We'll All Remember From Summer 2014

On the whole, I think this summer has been a good one. But whatever you think, it's definitely been a memorable one, as always. Here's what all of us will take away from this summer, 2014.

 

The Weather

The benchmark by which all summers in this country, it actually wasn't that bad this year, with most of June and July, and even the start of August, proving to be sunnier than most of us expected. Thankfully though, it's now returned to it's usual, miserable self, and we can all go back inside and wait until next year before we can get sunburned again.

 

Solange And Jay-Z Fight

Way back in May, Solange Knowles tried to beat the shit out of Jay Z in an elevator after leaving a Met Ball after party. In what was clearly a private family matter, the pricks that run TMZ decided that the whole world needed to see the footage. Arseholes.

 

World Cup

The World Cup is both the best thing and the worst thing that can happen during a summer. While it is on, I never have to leave my house, with football on the telly practically all the time. But when it is over, it leaves a void in the lives of many that cannot be filled until the tournament rolls around again in 4 years. And who knows, Ireland might even qualify....

 

Luis Suarez

I know that this happened during the World Cup, but the biting incident was just so big that it deserves a separate mention all on its own. The second high profile biting incident of the man's career, Suarez was banned for nine international matches and four months from all football activity. Which has since been changed to allow him train and play in friendlies, because UEFA are bottlers.

 

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17

In the second incident of the year involving Malaysian Airlines, the plane was shot down over Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 people on board. Investigations continue, with most believing that Russian separtists are to blame, while Russia are blaming the Ukranians.

 

Air Algerie Flight AH5017

And on July 24, only a week after the tragedy involving the Malaysian Airlines flight, an Air Algerie flight went missing, with 116 passengers on board, on the way from Burkina Faso to Algeria.

 

James Garner

Famous for his role as Bret Maverick in the 80s, Garner would be best known to all of us as the grandfather in 8 Simple Rules, and the older version of Ryan Gosling's character in the Notebook. Garner passed away on July 19.

 

UFC Dublin

Probably the most successful event for Irish athletes this summer, McGregor and co. won each of their own fights. Check out our profile of the man behind the fighters, John Kavanagh, below.

 

The Gaza Conflict

Ever since the nation of Israel was created back in the 1940s, there has been a constant sense of unrest in the region, which has escalated to conflicts on more than one occasions. And unfortunately there was yet more violence this summer, as the Israeli army continue to try and suppress the Palestinian people.

 

Fifty Shades Of Grey Trailer

Probably the closest a movie trailer can ever get to becoming viral, 27 million people have watched the trailer so far, with the film coming out Valentine's Day next year.

 

McIlroy's Dominance

Rory McIlroy has long been considered to have the potential to be one of the greats of the game of golf, and this summer he finally seems to be living up to this potential. Although he had already won two Majors, this summer he won his first Open, before following it up with a great win in the WGC, and rounding it off with his second PGA Championship, asserting his dominance as the number 1 golfer in the world right now.

 

Robin Williams

Having touched the heart of millions with his comedy, Williams' untimely death on August 11 reminded us that even those that appear most confident, and happy, can still be vulnerable.

 

Ice Bucket Challenge

The most recent craze to sweep social media, it is not nearly as annoying as the Harlem Shake, neknominations or the no make-up selfie (although in fairness that one also raised a lot of money for a great cause). And even if you do find them annoying, the fail videos make it all worth while.

 

Richard Attenborough

He escaped from a World War 2 prison camp, brought dinosaurs back to life, and was even Santa Claus. His greatest triumph came with the film Gandhi, which won 8 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Attenborough himself. He passed away on August 24.

 

The Songs

Rather than trying to pick the biggest song of the summer and having everyone give out to me that I got it wrong, I'll pick a few, and hopefully everyone's favourite will be in there somewhere.

Mr. Probz- Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)

Ariana Grande- Problem ft. Iggy Azalea

Jason Derulo- Wiggle ft. Snoop Dogg

Calvin Harris- Summer

 

The Films

Summer is all about blockbusters, and 2014 was no different. And unlike the songs, Guardians of the Galaxy was by far and away the best film of the summer, and anyone who says any different is just wrong. But of course, in the interest of fairness, I'll still mention some of the others.

Guardians Of The Galaxy

22 Jump Street

Transformers: Age Of Extinction

The Inbetweeners 2