Skip to main content Northern Ireland 2018: The year as drawn by Ian Knox From Brexit to RHI, and from Ian Paisley to Pope Francis, it has been a year rich in material for Irish News cartoonist Ian Knox. Here is the story of 2018 as told in his inimitable style Expand As 12-hour waits in A&E nearly triple in a year, the prospect of Brexit sees applications for Irish passports surge As 12-hour waits in A&E nearly triple in a year, the prospect of Brexit sees applications for Irish passports surge November 27, 2018 at 4:45PM GMT JANUARY As 12-hour waits in A&E nearly triple in a year, the prospect of Brexit sees applications for Irish passports surge As 12-hour waits in A&E nearly triple in a year, the prospect of Brexit sees applications for Irish passports surge FEBRUARY Outpourings of cross-community love on St Valentine's Day are limited at Stormont as talks to restore power-sharing collapse Outpourings of cross-community love on St Valentine's Day are limited at Stormont as talks to restore power-sharing collapse MARCH While Karen Bradley dithers over demands for MLA pay cuts during Cheltenham week, the shadow of the major political issue looms While Karen Bradley dithers over demands for MLA pay cuts during Cheltenham week, the shadow of the major political issue looms APRIL On the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a former US president and former senator join some of the main players in the Northern Ireland peace process for a unique occasion On the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a former US president and former senator join some of the main players in the Northern Ireland peace process for a unique occasion
MAY Not much trust between councils and bonfire organisers as rows over licensing schemes begin Not much trust between councils and bonfire organisers as rows over licensing schemes begin JUNE Arlene Foster's outreach to the LGBT community starts well but finishes less so. Meanwhile Ulster fries Arlene Foster's outreach to the LGBT community starts well but finishes less so. Meanwhile Ulster fries JULY Unlike the House of Commons which is expected to impose a severe punishment on Ian Paisley, his party, according to one spokesman, considers he has been "punished enough" Unlike the House of Commons which is expected to impose a severe punishment on Ian Paisley, his party, according to one spokesman, considers he has been "punished enough" AUGUST The multitudinous faithful who greeted the towering figure of Pope John Paul II when he was welcomed to Ireland by Taoiseach Jack Lynch in 1979 is greatly reduced when Pope Francis is received by a very different kind of Taoiseach in 2018 The multitudinous faithful who greeted the towering figure of Pope John Paul II when he was welcomed to Ireland by Taoiseach Jack Lynch in 1979 is greatly reduced when Pope Francis is received by a very different kind of Taoiseach in 2018 SEPTEMBER When questioned at the RHI Inquiry as to why his house was heated by a non-domestic boiler in an adjacent shed, Stephen Brimstone explains that a purpose of the shed was to shelter sheep if necessary When questioned at the RHI Inquiry as to why his house was heated by a non-domestic boiler in an adjacent shed, Stephen Brimstone explains that a purpose of the shed was to shelter sheep if necessary OCTOBER The mask of compatibility explodes with DUP threats to withdraw support to Theresa May. The future of both party leaders is openly discussed The mask of compatibility explodes with DUP threats to withdraw support to Theresa May. The future of both party leaders is openly discussed NOVEMBER Jeffrey Donaldson's admonishment to farmers and business people to read Theresa’s Brexit deal before expressing satisfaction seems rich from a party whose leader conspicuously failed to read the RHI legislation Jeffrey Donaldson's admonishment to farmers and business people to read Theresa’s Brexit deal before expressing satisfaction seems rich from a party whose leader conspicuously failed to read the RHI legislation DECEMBER A beleaguered Theresa May challenges Jeremy Corbyn to a TV debate before the parliamentary vote on her EU withdrawal deal A beleaguered Theresa May challenges Jeremy Corbyn to a TV debate before the parliamentary vote on her EU withdrawal deal To see more of Ian Knox's cartoons click here.