While just over 70,000 Australians were born in Ireland, 1.8 million claimed Irish ancestry at the time of the last Census. When you think about it, this is quite remarkable, writes the Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen.

We can only hope that the Tánaiste, the Minister for Finance and the Taoiseach privately expressed their concerns about human rights to the recent 150-strong Chinese delegation to Ireland.

While those who were unfortunate enough to lose out in the Irish property market will be unable to re-enter it for years, there is a large contingent of wealthy Irish expats around the globe who might be enticed to own a home in the country of their birth.

Sydney artist, writer, painter and decorator Michael Quinlan died in November, 2011. The Limerick man made his way to Australia in 1963 after spending some time in England, where he travelled widely in the merchant navy.

A recent BBC documentary tells the story of Irish soldiers who were placed on a blacklist after leaving the Irish Army to fight for Britain against Hitler. There is now a window to offer full and frank restoration to the men and their families.

Former Ireland Calling host Vince Murray passed away peacefully on December 23, 2011. He had suffered a massive stroke in early November and never recovered. He was 71. Michael Lyons remembers his friend as “the voice of the Irish in Sydney for more than 25 years”.

In 2011, we have seen the explosive fallout from incidences of clerical child sex abuse in the diocese of Cloyne, the eradication of Fianna Fáil as an electoral force, a controversial and at times bizarre presidential election campaign and the appointment of Ireland’s first female Chief Justice. It has been a year of upheaval, writes Luke O’Neill.

Over time, a degenerative condition slowly robbed Michael Hickey of his ability to walk. That didn’t stop him from enjoying life though, writes his son-in-law Rolf Muller.

As attention turns to Ireland’s new President, Michael D Higgins, after his official inauguration last Friday as Ireland’s ninth head of state, it is worth reflecting on the legacy of the woman who has vacated the role, Mary McAleese.

Emigration can be a tragedy for those who have no desire to leave. For most Irish, however, the urge to go is simply satisfying an innate and often irresistible desire to leave the nest.