As we look back on 2014, we can say there's been some highlights and some pretty awful cultural moments.

Here's a selection of some things we'll miss about the year that was 2014.

 

8. BEING ABLE TO SLAG ROBIN THICKE

Since his most recent album, Paula, sold 530 copies in its first week, it's fair to say that Robin Thicke's career is probably finished. Yes, he was a total douche - but dammit, we're going to miss having fun at his expense. The album itself was god-awful, with some truly shit lyrics and songs. But more to the point, we can't slag him and his invisible basketball any more either. Ah well.

 

7. THE COLBERT REPORT / DAVID LETTERMAN

As Stephen Colbert prepares to take the seat of David Letterman, we're losing one of the world's greatest satirists in Colbert Report and the king of late-night chat shows in David Letterman. As it's been confirmed his "character" will be jettisoned, so we're going to miss out on such terms as "truthiness" and segments such as The Word and Better Know A District. Here now, our favourite, all-time clip from The Colbert Report. Just look at those moves, son.

Letterman is widely regarded as one of the funniest men to ever man a desk on Late Night television. He didn't give a shit how big the guest was, if the interview was going anywhere remotely near 'meh' territory, he'd start to take the piss. All of the younger hosts look up to him and for very good reason. A genuine, no bullshit legend that will be missed from our screens in 2015.

6. THINKING THAT HOLOGRAMS ARE COOL

When the whole idea of hologram performers became a thing, we thought one thing - the Holodeck from Star Trek is becoming a reality. However, that wasn't the case. Instead, we got weird projections of Tupac and Michael Jackson that were, in all seriousness, pretty crap and kind of creepy. They're not sentient. They don't have personalities. It's just a weird-looking lightshow that someone is dancing awkwardly next to. Jacko is probably moonwalking in his grave. 

 

5. BRIAN O'DRISCOLL

2014 saw the final days of Brian O'Driscoll's professional career and it's fair to say that he's the finest rugby player this country has ever produced. And possibly the sport in general. Yea, WE SAID IT! We'll miss you, B'OD. In the meantime, let's hope Billy has started his training for the 2030 World Cup with some weight exercises and some light pass drills. Never too young and all that...

  

4. THE FALL / THE BATTLE OVER WHO'S HOTTER - JAMIE DORNAN OR GILLIAN ANDERSON

As The Fall came to its stunning conclusion, a line was effectively drawn under the series. But moreover, there's no more Gillian Anderson vamping it up in Norn Iron. Seriously, can we take a minute and appreciate Gillian Anderson's character? Yeah, fine, Jamie Dornan was a decent actor and very attractive - but Gillian Anderson. CHRIST. Yes a man wrote this, How'd you guess?

 

3. PEOPLE CARING ABOUT MILEY CYRUS BEING NAKED

As Miley Cyrus continues her journey of "self-discovery" - that's what we're calling it - one thing has become abundantly clear. She doesn't like clothes. In fact, she's partly responsible for the trend of visible mid-riffs in women's fashion and tongues being visible a lot. What's more, however, is that Cyrus wants to be naked. And that's great. The female form shouldn't be demonised or held from public view. But, honestly, we get the feeling that she's doing it for shock value. And nobody cares any more. The big giant ball swinging mad yoke. 

 

2. THE SERIAL PODCAST

Yes, Serial was that great little thing that only a few people knew about. Now it's everywhere. SNL are parodying it. Copycats are springing up. It's that one cool thing you had, that you got in on the ground floor. And now it's everywhere. Dammit. At least you can start every conversation about it with "Well, i was a fan BEFORE it was crazy popular"...

 

1. GARTH BROOKS

What will we miss about Garth Brooks? The fact that we can't slag him anymore and the people who religiously like him. For a period of time, the country was in the grip of nostalgia and it looked like line-dancing was back in action. Thanks to bad public planning - good job again, Dublin City Council! - and an overzealous promoter, it all went to shit. The turn from beloved country music icon to public enemy was incredible. Effigies of Brooks were burnt and hung across the nation. The whole debacle was either highly amusing or deeply upsetting, depending on where in the country you lived.  Looking back, you've got to wonder what came over us. What made us think that 1994 was a place we all wanted to go back to? 

 

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Attenborough and Robin Williams - Three titans of acting that will be sadly missed by film fans everywhere.

The World Cup - To be fair, we're just happy that J-Lo / Pitbull song isn't on the radio any more.

Kimye's Wedding - It happened. We got over it. Now she's naked. Whatever.