Picture: Masayoshi SukitaThe death of David Bowie on January 10, two days after his 69th birthday, heralds doom. As 2016 sees beloved musicians drop dead throughout the year — Prince follows Bowie in April — the political landscape lurches. On November 8, 61.2 million Americans vote for Donald Trump in the US presidential elections, while 62.5 million vote for Hillary Clinton. Meanwhile, Ireland commemorates the 1916 Easter Rising centenary with parades and ceremonies overseen by President Michael D Higgins. Books of the year include Sebastian Barry’s Days Without End, Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, and Colson Whitehead’s Underground Railroad.

Source: Irish Examiner January 01, 2026 12:42 UTC