1) The most read opinion piece in The Irish News in 2016 was about the brutal murder by Alan Hawe of his wife and their three children in Cavan.
Columnist Allison Morris argued that the outpouring of sympathy for Hawe was sickening.
[ Her name was Clodagh - she was a victim, her killer was notOpens in new window ]
2) Allison Morris tackles another heartbreaking story in her column about the Buncrana pier tragedy.
Louise James, her family wiped out in a tragedy of mammoth proportions, would have been left with no one to hold for comfort had Davitt Walsh not swam out and saved little Ríoghnach.
Buncrana pier tragedy: One hero saved a life, another gave his own
3) Brian Feeney criticises First Minister Arlene Foster and her Leave campaign following the result of the Brexit referendum in June. He argues that when it comes to talking about the EU, Arlene doesn’t speak for the people of Northern Ireland.
Arlene Foster ignoring the truth over north's position on EU
4) In January, Newton Emerson shone the light on nurses pay, who he argues are well paid in Northern Ireland
Despite the claims, nurses are not badly paid
5) Patrick Murphy says that Arlene Foster was correct to claim there is no equivalence between the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme. The first minister declined to attend any 1916 commemorations at Easter. The Taoiseach argued that since nationalists are willing to commemorate the Battle of the Somme, unionists should be prepared to commemorate the Rising.