Most Popular Google Searches in Ireland for 2021
As 2021 draws to a close in a year that was once again overshadowed by the ongoing pandemic, we look back on the most popular Google searches in Ireland over the last year in comparison to 2020. Coronavirus is still in the top five of overall searches but has fallen to third place from second in 2020 and this year sports-related queries take up three of the top five spots. Here are the top Google search queries in Ireland for 2021 compared to 2020.
Overall Queries
While Ireland didn’t qualify for the tournament it still brought a welcome relief from watching empty sports stadiums for much of the year and so the delayed 2020 European Championships was the most popular overall search in Ireland. Coronavirus did feature and was the third most popular search, however, down from second last year and with schools closed in the early part of the year the Seesaw online learning and tuition app generated a lot of search traffic. The top five overall search queries are:
2020
- US election
- Coronavirus
- Caroline Flack
- Premier League
- CNN
2021
- European Championship
- Premier League
- Coronavirus
- Seesaw
- Christian Eriksen
‘How to’ Queries
How did we ever get things done before Google was there to tell us how to do it? “How to” queries generate a lot of search traffic and this year, as was the case in 2020, Covid related queries dominate this category, however, thankfully we are no longer asking “How to make a Face mask”, which was top in 2020 or more worryingly “How to make hand sanitiser” and this year people wanted to know how they register for a vaccine. With a nice spell of good weather throughout the summer, I can hold my hand up and say that I too searched “how to get rid of fruit flies” which is fairly easy by the way. All you need is some vinegar in a small container with cling film placed over the top. Just don’t forget to put some small holes in the plastic. You’re welcome! The top five “how to” queries are:
2020
- How to make a face mask
- How to make hand sanitiser
- How to register to vote
- How to cut men’s hair
- How to make scones
2021
- How to register for the Covid-19 vaccine
- How to make Iced Coffee
- How to do an Antigen test
- How to book a Covid-19 test
- How to get rid of fruit flies
Movies Queries
While cinemas were closed across the country for much of the year there were still some big releases both in cinemas (when they opened) and across streaming services in 2021. The action-comedy Red Notice from Netflix was the most searched movie on Google in 2021 compared to the WW1 epic 1917 last year. Dune, based on the book by Frank Herbert was also released in the second half of the year and has been met with rave reviews with part 2 scheduled for release in October 2023. The top five movie search queries are:
2020
- 1917
- Parasite
- Little Women
- Jojo Rabbit
- Tenet
2021
- Red Notice
- Dune
- Eternals
- No Time to Die
- The Suicide Squad
People Queries
In people searches for 2021, footballer Christian Eriksen was the most searched person in 2021. The Danish international midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest during a competitive game again Finland during the European Championships, which was being watched by millions around the world. Thankfully, the rapid intervention from medical personnel saved his life and while he has not played since, he continues to recover and only recently began working out at the grounds of his youth level club in Denmark. Other top five results include Alec Baldwin and the tragedy that occurred on the set of a movie he was staring in and our own Olympic boxing hero Kellie Harrington. With limited access to social media, “The Don” didn’t make the cut, this year. The top five people queries are:
2020
- Joe Biden
- Boris Johnson
- Kim Jong Un
- Phillip Schofield
- Donald Trump
2021
- Christian Eriksen
- Gordon Elliot
- Alec Baldwin
- Matt Hancock
- Kellie Harrington
Recipe Queries
With people largely confined to their homes in the early months of the year during lockdown and with restaurants and bars closed, we had to rely on our own culinary skills to satisfy our taste palate. Last year the top recipe query was brown bread, while this year we opted for the breakfast favourites of pancakes and waffles. The only survivor from last years top five is Pizza dough which once again proved popular. The top five recipe searches are:
2020
- Brown Bread recipe
- Scones recipe
- Pizza Dough recipe
- Apple Tart recipe
- Soda Bread recipe
2021
- Pancakes recipe
- Waffles recipe
- Shepherd’s Pie recipe
- Pizza Dough recipe
- Carbonara recipe
Television Queries
While many of the big-budget movies were delayed or released straight to streaming services such as HBO, the demand for original television programmes was higher than ever. This year Netflix hosted the two most popular television shows, in terms of search queries; the saucy British period drama Bridgerton and the hugely popular South Korean Squid Game. Loved Island once again proved popular and also making the cut was Mare of Eastown, which in my opinion was the best television drama of the year, starring Kate Winslet. Yes, the one who said “I’ll never let go” before immediately letting go, despite the fact that there was plenty of room on that floating door. Maybe it’s time, I too let it go? The top five Television queries are:
2020
- Normal People
- Love Island
- The Queen’s Gambit
- The Fall
- Operation Transformation
2021
- Bridgerton
- Squid Game
- Love Island
- Eurovision
- Mare of Eastown
So, what do the search queries for 2021 tell us? Coronavirus is still with us and will continue to generate high search volumes but not as much as in 2020, our recipe flavours have switched from brown bread to breakfast favourites of pancakes and waffles and Bridgerton was the most searched television show, even though Squid Games had almost double the viewing figures. When putting this together last year I hoped that Covid would be in the rearview mirror, and I can only hope for the same in 2022 but now as we near the holidays the team at IT.ie would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and also wish you happiness and good fortune in 2022.
