IT was the year of the Brexit referendum, Donald Trump was elected to the White House and celebrity deaths included David Bowie, Prince and George Michael. But there were also major events closer to home that captured the imagination of Irish News readers. Here are the 10 stories that were most read on our website in 2016.
'Let children fight back against playground bullies'
March 4: A leading clinical psychologist urged parents to give their children permission to `fight back' against playground bullies - even if it means getting into trouble at school..
David Coleman, who specialises in working with children, teenagers and their families and has fronted several RTÉ programmes, said in March it was important for children who are regularly being "pushed, poked or tripped in the schoolyard" to "feel that they can assert themselves".
Buncrana pier tragedy: Funeral hears Evan McGrotty (8) told mum: ‘I'm going to give you the biggest, tightest hug when I see you again'
March 20: THE entire country was stunned by the news that five members of the same family died after their car slipped from a pier into the water.
Evan McGrotty, aged eight, died alongside his 12-year-old brother Mark, his father Sean (46) grandmother Ruth Daniels (57) and her 14-year-old daughter, Jodie Lee Daniels, when their SUV sank after sliding off a slipway in Buncrana, Co Donegal.
Heart-breaking details were revealed in the days after the tragedy, including Evan's conversation where he had told his mother on the phone minutes earlier that he wanted to hug her.
15,000 loyalists to march through Belfast city centre
June 3: THE news that to 15,000 loyalists were set to parade through Belfast city centre to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme was met with trepidation in some quarters due to the possibility of violence.
The march coincided with Republic of Ireland fans making their way through the city ahead of the team's Euro 2016 clash with Belgium.
A total of 36 bands marched along Belfast’s busiest shopping street - Royal Avenue - on Saturday June 18.
There was a large police presence as the parade passed off without incident.
De La Salle College caretaker cleared of assault
June 6: A SCHOOLcaretaker was cleared of common assault against a pupil in an incident which sparked a long running dispute at De La Salle College.
Eileen Hall (58, pictured centre) from Colinbrook Park in Poleglass had a charge of common assault against her dismissed at Laganside magistrates court.
The charge related to an incident involving a 13-year-old boy at the school on October 14 last year, which was central to an escalation in tensions between staff and management.
History students snub Queen's University vice chancellor Patrick Johnston at graduation
July 6: HISTORY students used their graduation ceremony to snub the head of Queen's University after his controversial claim that "society doesn't need a 21-year-old that's a sixth century historian".
Several students refused to shake Patrick Johnston's hand and he was also given a flyer about a campaign against cutting some university courses.
Leading loyalist John Boreland shot dead
August 8: LEADING loyalist John Boreland was shot dead in north Belfast.
The ex-UDA chief was a close associate of Andre Shoukri and his murder was seen as a throwback to the grim days of loyalist feuds and power struggles.
Allison Morris: Her name was Clodagh - she was a victim, her killer was not
September 8: THE backlash following early reporting of the murder of a mother and her three children in Cavan by husband and father Alan Hawe caused controversy.
Irish News columnist Allison Morris said coverage was quite frankly sickening.
Allison wrote: "Clodagh Hawe and her three sons Liam, Niall and Ryan were initially treated like collateral damage in the life and death of Alan Hawe."
Tyrone GAA's Cathal McCarron tells how he met girl (15) on Tinder
October 14: CATHAL McCarron received widespread news coverage as his autobiography 'Out of Control' was released.
As well as details of his infamous appearance in a pronographic film, McCarron told of being questioned by gardaí over his involvement with a 15-year-old girl through Tinder.
The Tyrone GAA player said he did not realise the girl was underage when they arranged to meet using the mobile dating app.
Video: Co Tyrone PSNI stop and search film attracts one million views 24 hours
November 15: A FACEBOOK video of a PSNI stop and search operation in Co Tyrone attracted almost one million views in just 24 hours.
The seven-minute clip was posted online by fitness expert Aaron Lambo after he was stopped by officers as he walked outside Omagh PSNI station.
Northern Ireland accent voted sexiest in the world
November 17 2015: Despite being first reported in 2015, readers apparently could still not get enough of news that the Northern Ireland accent was voted sexiest in the world, according to a poll.
Co Antrim's Liam Neeson and Co Down's Jamie Dornan and Rory McIlroy, may have helped to ensure the popularity of the accent, according to the ASDA poll.
