In Pictures: Centenary celebrations head 2022 events in Ireland

Ireland spent the year getting back to business, as Covid restrictions were eased and events which had been cancelled were reinstated.

Ireland kicked off 2022 marking 100 years since the end of the Irish war of independence against British rule.

Events were held throughout the year commemorating various centenary anniversaries, including the formation of the Civil Guard.

Elsewhere, the country spent 2022 getting back to business, as Covid restrictions were eased and events which had been cancelled for two years due to the pandemic were reinstated.

St Patrick’s Day Parade – Dublin — Spectators get in the mood ahead of the 2022 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin after the event was cancelled the previous two years (Brian Lawless/PA)

Irish Wildlife Trust and Extinction Rebellion protest — Environmental campaigners urge the Government to introduce legislation in the form of a Biodiversity Act during a protest outside the national biodiversity conference in Dublin Castle (Niall Carson/PA)

Summer weather July 7th 2022 — People walk on Dollymount Strand in Dublin as some parts of the country reached 33C (Brian Lawless/PA)

Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2022 — Banjo player Kevin Kennedy, left, performs on the streets of Mullingar as the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann gets under way in Co Westmeath (Brian Lawless/PA)

Anna Nedosekina, who travelled to Ireland in March, attends a family day event in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, to honour Ukraine’s Independence Day — Anna Nedosekina, who travelled to Ireland in March, attends a family day event to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day (Nick Bradshaw/PA)

Revellers arriving for the Electric Picnic Festival in Stradbally, County Laois (Niall Carson/PA)

‘Vicky’ documentary launch — A digital artwork of cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan is projected onto the GPO in Dublin ahead of the launch of a feature documentary about her life (Brian Lawless/PA)

Savita Halappanavar anniversary march — People march on O’Connell Street, Dublin, urging the removal of what they say are barriers that are forcing some pregnant women to travel to access abortion (Niall Carson/PA)

Leo Varadkar becomes Taoiseach — Newly-elected Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives to receive his seal of office from President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin (Nick Bradshaw/PA)