As 2019 comes to a close, the annual Google Year in Search results provide a telling snapshot of what caught the interest of the nation over the last 12 months.

The Rugby World Cup tops the overall search list for 2019. Although Ireland’s hopes of making the final were dashed quite early on, the nation were clearly still glued to the action – using Google to search the match highlights from pool games right through to the final.

Unsurprisingly, Gay Byrne comes in at second place, following his death in November, aged 85. The iconic broadcaster was remembered by people across all sectors of Irish life, while Hot Press revisited his iconic 1986 cover story.

Ireland's Top 10 recipe searches of 2019 also give a fascinating insight into the nation's changing diet, with vegan recipes topping the list – and keto, smoothie, plant-based, healthy dinner, Happy Pear also featuring.

Our Google’s search trends also reflect our politically turbulent times. ‘What is the backstop?’ tops the 'What Is...' list, rising from third place in 2018. In the 'How To...' results, meanwhile, ‘How to vote?’ is runner up behind the ever-relevant question: ‘How to boil an egg?’

See the full list of Ireland's Google Year in Search results below:

Overall Searches
Rugby World Cup
Gay Byrne
Storm Lorenzo
Game of Thrones
Brendan Grace
Cameron Boyce
EU Election Results
Shane Lowry
Joker
Luke Perry

People
Shane Lowry
James Charles
Boris Johnson
Katie Taylor
Maria Bailey
Tommy Fury
Anthony Joshua
Liam Neeson
Caitlyn Jenner
Rebekah Vardy

Recipes
Vegan recipes
Keto recipes
Smoothie recipes
Stew recipes
Plant based recipes
Healthy dinner recipes
Happy Pear recipes
Courgette recipes
Salmon recipes
Pasta bake recipes

How To
How to boil an egg
How to vote
How to pronounce psalm
How to lose belly fat
How to solve a rubix cube
How to make French toast
How to stop snoring
How to draw
How to make iced coffee
How to get rid of spots

Movies
Joker
The Irishman
Avengers Endgame
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Captain Marvel
The Favourite
Greenbook
Toy Story 4
Hustlers
Midsommers

What is?
What is the backstop
What is area 51
What is a dead ting
What is fracking
What is Brexit
What is a boomer
What is Tik Tok
What is lupus
What is a life Sentence in Ireland
What is pansexual