Jessica Hergert is a junior at Rider University. She is currently studying abroad at Griffith College and interning with Olytico through the CAPA study abroad programme.
Each week Olytico tracks the trending Twitter Topics in Ireland. We specialise in social media listening and analysis, helping our clients make well-informed, performance-driven decisions based on Olytico insights. To find out more about our services click here.
The Top 10 Twitter Trends in Ireland from last week (13th – 19th March 2017) are summarised below.
1. #StPatricksDay,#PaddysDay
Hundreds of thousands of people clad in green, white and gold flooded the streets of Ireland to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. The highly-anticipated, four-day festival drew tourists from all over the world to the streets of Dublin to witness the country’s biggest parade and have a Guinness at Temple Bar. Twitter was booming with snaps of outrageous costumes, busy streets and Dublin’s favorite sites lit up in green.
The Ha'penny Bridge lighting all ready for St Patrick's Day #LoveDublin #HapennyBridge #Dublin #Ireland #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/EghlACYnyp
— David Costello Photography (@DavidCostelloDC) March 16, 2017
A little flavour of what it's like to perform in the Dublin St Patrick's Day Parade with the amazing @ArtasticStreet #Dublin #StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/gBR1wp2KMq
— Dublin (@Dublin_ie) March 17, 2017
Walking aimlessly around Dublin with these cool cats #Paddysday2017 #stpatricksday #LookingforAPint 🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮 pic.twitter.com/ErtOgs7zHE
— KΛI ЩIDDЯIПGƬӨП (@Kaiwidd) March 17, 2017
2. #Rescue116, #CoastGuard
On the morning of March 14th, a routine rescue mission turned into a tragic disaster for Coast Guard helicopter R116. As the vessel passed near Blackrock lighthouse it went down. Volunteers immediately set out to search for the crew while controversy began surrounding how exactly the helicopter crashed and also, the severity of injuries sustained by the fisherman who was to be rescued. Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was found in the wreckage but passed away in hospital later. The three other crew members remain missing.
These people are genuine heroes. They're also Mothers, Fathers,Brothers, Sisters. Thoughts with all our emergency services today❤#Rescue116 pic.twitter.com/qwvRguJ5Gw
— Carl Mullan (@CarlMullan) March 14, 2017
Thinking of these guys today #trueheros #IrishCoastGuard #Rescue116 pic.twitter.com/bmy6lijE14
— Mark Broderick (@MarkBrodericks) March 14, 2017
#Rescue116 brave to the core. pic.twitter.com/NszYLRVKvM
— dave beegan (@beego26) March 14, 2017
3. #Indyref2
Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, announced her plan to seek a second referendum regarding Scottish independence. She said that due to Britain’s decision to leave the EU, something needs to be done to protect Scotland’s best interest. Although Theresa May, Prime Minister of the UK, stated that the vote will send Scotland into “uncertainty and division,” Sturgeon stands by her decision and hopes the vote will take place in 2018.
https://twitter.com/malazac/status/843177332584185856
The day after @NicolaSturgeon announced her plan to call #indyref2, this is the sky over Belfast. An omen :-) ? pic.twitter.com/uvMFounG3M
— Colm Mac Aindreasa (@colm_mac) March 14, 2017
4. #IREvENG
The final match of the Six Nations’ Championship took place on March 18th with a highly anticipated face-off between Ireland and England. Despite Ireland winning the game 13-9, England claimed the trophy for the second year in a row. Ireland’s win was not devalued though as it prevented England from getting a grand slam. Although fans would have loved to see Ireland take home the trophy, social media was filled with support and love for the team.
That's the sound of a chariot crashing… #IrevEng pic.twitter.com/kBW734iHZj
— Killian Byrne (@killianbyrne) March 18, 2017
Fair play to England, hell of a run. Don't want to take full credit for putting them off their game but….. #IrevEng #mindgames #eddiejones pic.twitter.com/dWIsaicyE2
— Mick Torrans (@MickTorrans) March 18, 2017
Ireland have ended England's Grand Slam dreams with a brilliant 13-9 victory and Lansdowne Rd is rockin! #IREvENG #6nations pic.twitter.com/vfaluu3LiJ
— 98FM Sport (@98FMsport) March 18, 2017
5. #CheltenhamFestival
The 2017 Cheltenham Festival took place last week, drawing in a large crowd eager to place wagers on their favourite horses. Founded in 1860, the Cheltenham Festival showcases the best in British and Irish horse racing. The Irish performed particularly well this year with a record-breaking 19 winners including Jessica Harrington who took home the Timico Gold Cup.
#CheltenhamFestival 2017 will be one to remember 🇮🇪🍀. Just a few of our favourite pictures taken by the @RacingPost at #TheFestival. pic.twitter.com/VlfF6xmOuc
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) March 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/842435285610827778
6. Roy Keane
Roy Keane, assistant manager and retired player for the Republic of Ireland football team, found himself in the center of controversy after negative comments he made regarding Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho. Keane claimed Mourinho has been spreading “absolute nonsense,” arguing that “maybe the club is too big for him.” Keane’s comments have sparked other managers, players and fans to take sides on the argument, including Wales national football manager Chris Coleman who says his “ears will be closed” to anything Keane says.
Roy Keane tearing into Jose Mourinho pic.twitter.com/gzTjGZQ36X
— 💯 (@colgcra) March 17, 2017
Roy Keane says Marcos Rojo eating a banana was definitely staged pic.twitter.com/hGcKXZ1DQY
— Enda Higgins (@endahiggins88) March 17, 2017
Riverdance & Roy Keane are two of my favourite Irish things ever ☘️🇮🇪⚽️
— Alan Cawley (@alancaw) March 19, 2017
7. #TheToughest
Dr Crokes GAA football team proved they are #TheToughest after winning the All-Ireland SFC Club finals at Croke Park on March 17th. This is only the second SFC Championship the team has won. Corner-forward player, Colm Cooper, nicknamed “The Gooch”, had a particularly impressive performance that led to the team’s narrow win over Slaughtneil with 1:09 to 1:07. During the post-match celebrations, the Killarney team won the hearts of many when captain Johnny Buckley lifted the trophy with 10-year-old fan Amy O’Connor, who has been battling cancer.
In the words of the great man @colmcooper13. @drcrokesgaa are #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/psrwIomsE5
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) March 17, 2017
A great moment for one of the greats. #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/xy4oRtWEhI
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) March 17, 2017
Quite possibly the best gesture I have ever witnessed in Sport ! Congrats Dr. Crokes #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/ObhZzjp4Cx
— The Brand Geeks 🤓 (@thebrandgeeks) March 17, 2017
8. #Leicester
Leicester is moving on to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after an impressive and surprising win over Sevilla on March 15th. The underdog team, whose UEFA football journey has been nicknamed a “fairytale,” has gained support because of their passion and love for the game. Fans are hopeful their spirits will remain high when they face Atletico Madrid in April.
When you turn on @Twitter and see #Leicester have won 2-0 and reached the Champions League 1/4 finals 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/VIXwvPORw9
— Róisín Glynn (@RoisinGlynn) March 14, 2017
#Leicester shock #Sevilla – and the football world – to reach #ChampionsLeague last eight. https://t.co/CDaqMobwJn pic.twitter.com/hfL9zWMwmm
— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 14, 2017
9. #LateLateShow
The Late Late Show unsurprisingly trended in Ireland last week for their ‘All-Irish Guest’ St. Patrick’s Day special. The guests, including TD Michael Healy-Rae, had their DNA screened on-air to test “how green their blood is.” Many fans got a laugh from learning that although Healy-Rae is 100% Irish, he originates from Cork, not Kerry. Also on the show, was former-footballer Paul McGrath who opened up about his struggle with alcoholism. He happily admitted that he has been sober for a few months. Fans were moved by his courage and congratulated him on his sobriety.
He opened up about how he drinks for ‘oblivion’, and not to be social. #LateLateShow https://t.co/iR9baPX1Tc
— Buzz.ie (@buzzdotie) March 18, 2017
Hee hee hee…@MHealyRae has been told he's from CORK but he's 100% Irish #LateLateShow
— Maria (@Maria_Shannon) March 17, 2017
10. #GamerCon
The first-ever GamerCon took place on March 18th and 19th at the Convention Centre in Dublin. The convention promised to bring the biggest and newest games, YouTube star meet-and-greets and exclusive merchandise to gamer fans. Despite a lot of hype, the event turned into a fiasco where thousands of people were left queuing in the rain for hours to get into the venue. People took to social media to express their anger and demand refunds.
#GamerCon Gamercon manager interviewed to why he oversold the tickets. pic.twitter.com/xGC3FdoPJO
— Long Boi (@murphyxace) March 18, 2017
#GamerCon queued for 4 hours had to give up.. current mood of the child on the way home #dontbother pic.twitter.com/EI061jdWVk
— Lyn Naami (@Lynz2511) March 18, 2017
@thinkingcap13 one of the gems in the mire that was #gamercon. You guys did incredible work! #gameart #art #mural #gaming @GameStopIreland pic.twitter.com/fsmdmizOCW
— Elizabeth Treacy (@LiteraryLicence) March 19, 2017
If you want to find out more about what was trending in Ireland this past week, or if you have any other social media listening requirements, send us a request at info@olytico.com or click here.