Harris & Hozier Rule 2020

Side by side…

s Facebook wraps up another year of bringing people together to share memories, manipulated photos and manufactured dissent, it’s good to see two of our local lads hit the headlines.

The social media giant has just released its annual Year In Review, and both Simon Harris and Hozier were front and centre for two of the biggest stories of the year.

Harris also found himself with one of the fastest-growing Instagram accounts of the year in Ireland. Despite the fact that he hasn’t been parading half-naked down at The Cove every morning.

For his part, Hozier’s Late Late Show performance of The Parting Glass, as the nation remembered those we had lost to Covid-19, struck a chord with much of the country.

Owners also of Instagram and WhatsApp (for now), here’s the breakdown of Facebook Ireland’s year…

Covid-19
These much-talked about moments generated some of the highest levels of interaction across our apps, and include the following;

First confirmed case of COVID-19 in Northern Ireland
Hozier’s performance of Parting Glass remembering COVID-19 victims
Leo Varadkar addressing the nation about the first lockdown measures in March and April
Launch of the HSE contact tracing app
Suspension of GAA games
‘Staycations’ as travel was restricted during the summer months
People in Ireland joined online communities – under extraordinary circumstances, communities found ways to connect, learn and grow;

250,000+ people joined hobby Groups on Facebook after 12th of March
120,000+ people joined fitness and wellbeing Groups on Facebook since the lockdown started
60,000+ parents flocked to Facebook during the lockdown for tips about online art classes for kids, advice on parenting allowances and more
As parents became full-time educators, members of home schooling Groups on Facebook doubled, to 10,000 during lockdown
Supported local businesses – In the last 3 months, people rallied behind small Irish businesses more than ever as many businesses couldn’t operate as normal.

250,000+ people joined Groups on Facebook backing small Irish businesses this Christmas
325,000+ posts and comments supporting small Irish businesses
#MadeLocal, #BuyIrish and #ShopLocal are among the biggest growing hashtags on Instagram
30,000+ Instagram Stories in Ireland had the ‘Support Small Business’ sticker
Ireland raised funds for important causes – people came to Facebook to raise vital funds for Irish charities. Some of the top fundraisers in Ireland were on behalf of;

The Mater Foundation
Pieta House
Duathlon for Dan (Do it for Dan)
Irish Cancer Society
Dogs Trust Ireland

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People came to Facebook to commemorate those who left a lasting legacy in Ireland such as John Hume, Jack Charlton and Marian Finucane as well as global figures such as George Floyd, Kobe Bryant and Caroline Flack.

Among The Top-Growing Instagram Accounts

@dermotkennedy
@leovaradkar
@rozannapurcell
@simonharristd

Among The Top Facebook Groups Created In 2020

Shop in Ireland
St Patrick’s Day Sing song
Free Fun Home activities for children
Shop Wexford 2020
Lockdown Ireland Updates & Banter

Speaking on their 2020, the head of Facebook Ireland, Gareth Lambe, said, “People have always come to Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp to build community and connect with friends and family. This year, people have shown remarkable community spirit, support for each other and local businesses and incredible ingenuity on our platforms.

“This year’s reflection of big moments shows first-hand that when people are connected they can achieve extraordinary things.”

They can also piss away a perfectly good afternoon.

So, this Christmas, let’s all try and get the feck off social media, and just be present. For our presents. And our loved ones.