As we say goodbye to 2022, we're taking a look back at the year that's just passed, with an eye on the year to come.
It has been another difficult year for families across Northern Ireland, as many of us struggled with the rising cost of living right after dealing with the coronavirus pandemic for the two years before.
But despite this adversity, there were still plenty of good news stories to be found in communities across Northern Ireland.
Read more: Co Down dad hails new counselling service with a difference
Here at Belfast Live we were lucky to be able to continue telling the stories of inspirational people, and share happy moments despite it all.
Stories of people helping their neighbours through difficult times, people from here achieving big things, and heartwarming stories of people helping to keep spirits up.
We've put together a list of some of our favourite good news stories from 2022.
NI man amazed after letter arrives using his 'life story' instead of address
In January, a musician from Cushendall was blown away when a letter arrived at his house with his "life story" on the front instead of his address.
In typical Northern Ireland fashion, likened to your mother trying to describe someone in the middle of a story, Feargal Lynn felt like he was reading his life on the page.
The letter found its way to him with his first name, the village he grew up in, and half the postcode.
Read the full story here.
Belfast cafe saved from closure after selfless gesture from local family
A West Belfast woman has hailed the kindness of her community after she was thrown a lifeline just days after announcing she would be closing her business.
Gráinne Carson opened Patisserie G on Beechmount Avenue in August 2021, serving hot and cold food and drinks, as well as hosting a range of clubs for local children, including breakfast club and book club. Last week, she made the difficult decision to announce Patisserie G's closure due to the increase in electricity.
But in an incredible turn of events, a local family stepped in, throwing Gráinne a major lifeline - offering to pay the electricity bills so that Patisserie could remain open. Find the full story here.
Meet the man spreading mental health awareness from a Belfast roundabout
Each day in December, Peter Patrick stood at Cloughfern roundabout in Whiteabbey with a sign reading "mental health matters, be kind to your mind."
Hopped up each day to face the freezing temperatures, the Shore Road man said his "mission will be done" if he's able to start even one conversation about mental health in a car passing through the busy area. Read the full story here.
Watch: Armagh schoolboy invited on stage with his musical hero Christy Moore
Earlier this year, Míceál Bennett ensured he was first in the queue to see his favourite singer Christy Moore - little did he know, he would be leaving as one of the few people ever invited on stage by the Irish singer in the entirety of his career.
The 10-year-old's mother Dearbhla told Belfast Live about her son's love of the folk musician and how he became to be Christy's "number one fan."
Find the full story here.
The joys and challenges of running Ireland's only Ferret rescue centre
An East Belfast woman has turned her home into the only rescue centre for ferrets in Ireland.
Melissa McNally had never planned on opening her household rescue centre The Ferret Glen and that it started by chance after one of her pets went missing and was recovered with the help of the local community.
Following this people started coming to her with ferrets they were concerned about or in need of a new home, and with the encouragement of her husband Joe she officially opened the rescue in September 2021. Read more here.
Patrick Haren birthday card appeal
We brought you the story in November of Co Fermanagh mum Wendy Haren launching an appeal for birthday cards for her son, who was paralysed following attempts to treat scoliosis.
Wendy Haren was hoping to have as many cards sent to her son Patrick on his 20th birthday as possible to keep his spirits up.
Patrick was born with a number of life-threatening conditions, including scoliosis and kyphosis, and his mum says it is a miracle he has survived to see his 20th birthday.
When we shared the story with our readers, they did the rest. Hundreds and hundreds of cards arrived to the Haren household and made it a birthday to remember for Patrick. Read more here.
Meet the Belfast man making sure children have toys to open this Christmas
A West Belfast man has dedicated his time over the last three years to spread as much joy as possible over the Christmas period.
Martin Duffy, from Twinbrook, said after the birth of his daughter, they heard accounts of some families less fortunate. Taken back by what he heard, Martin decided he was going to try and help families in need around the festive period.
Now known as Uncle Duff, he gathers toys for young children and vouchers for older children and teenagers, with the support of local businesses and sports clubs. Read the story here.
NI shop offering free lunches to children until schools restart
A shop in Lisburn has been helping children through the Christmas holidays with free lunches until schools restart.
The Woodbrook Avenue Vivo store has said that it will be running the offer everyday from 10.30am to 2pm until the school term restarts in the hopes of providing a bit of extra support to families in the area amid the cost of living crisis. Read more here.
Belfast woman on 50 years teaching piano.. & paragliding in her 80s for charity
Margaret Thompson has been teaching piano in North Belfast for the past 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
The 86-year-old is full of energy and regularly takes part in a painting club, crocheting club, and the committee at her local church. All of this on top of teaching piano for 20 hours a week, and taking part in a local lunch club where she jokes she's "going down to make lunch for the old folk."
But one thing that has been close to Margaret's heart for many years is the charity work she takes part in. Most recently, at the end of July she travelled to Interlaken in Switzerland to paraglide as a way to fundraise for the Northern Ireland Hospice. Read more here.
NI woman on single motherhood and battling with anxiety to start new business
A Glengormley woman has opened up on her daily battle with anxiety and how learning to push through has helped her cope with single motherhood and eventually quit her job to start her own business.
These days, Caoimhe McGlade, 34, is a proud mum to her teenage daughter, Grace, a homeowner and a successful businesswoman after turning her life around. Read the story here.
West Belfast man sheds 12 stone after struggling to walk
Tipping the scales at over 26 stone, Conor Loughlin was struggling to walk and lacked motivation - but today he is at the gym six days a week and enjoying his new-found hobby.
With a passion for helping others, he has found that he can do so through his fitness journey too.
During lockdown, the 26-year-old started walking, and from there he has transformed himself both physically and mentally. Conor has lost 12 stone, with no plans to stop any time soon. Find the full story here.
The East Belfast 'Kindness Crew' helping their local community
The Ledley Hall Youth Club Kindness Crew are a group of 15 children aged five to 11 who have come together in order to come up with new ways that they can show kindness and consideration to others and provide help to those who need it.
As part of their work in their local community they have developed a 'Kindness Hut' which they fill with groceries, clothes and school uniforms, which can be accessed by local families who need a bit of extra support. Read more here.
Belfast cafe's Christmas toy appeal as demand for help is 'off the charts'
The team at Use Your Loaf cafe and bakery on the Antrim Road have been helping families for years, but faced their biggest demand yet this year amid the cost of living crisis.
Owner John Kelly launched a kids breakfast club this year, and held a Christmas toy donation drive which ensured thousands of children in Belfast had presents under the tree this year. Find out more here.
NI mum on how autistic son inspired new higher education qualification
When Co Derry mum Fiona Forrest was developing new training for people working with children and adults with special needs and disabilities, it was a cause very close to her heart.
Fiona from Moneymore, has a young autistic son and works as a lecturer at Northern Regional College.
She has just created a Level 4 qualification available at NRC, which is the first and only higher education (HE) qualification of its kind available in Northern Ireland. Read the story here.
'It's a big help': Belfast group's lunch club for pensioners reducing isolation
The lunch club launched by a community group in West Belfast has been hailed as a "big help" in reducing isolation.
Ardmonagh Family and Community Group started their Winter Lunch Club earlier this month to help local older people make new friends, while bonding over a warm meal, cup of tea, and some activities.
Around 20 people have been attending the daily lunch club each day, with the group saying there is room for more who may fancy coming along. Read the story here.
Wallaby found in Co Tyrone
The whole of Co Tyrone went wild earlier this year after a wallaby escaped from an enclosure in Gortin in August.
Winnie the wallaby escaped her enclosure shortly after arrival at Glenpark Estate in Gortin, with a frantic search taking place from the local community lasting days.
However, estate owner Richard Beattie was jumping for joy as Winnie was found in foliage near to where she was last seen. Read more here.
Watch moment Belfast woman tells daughter 'mummy is cancer free'
In November, Liathán O'Donnchadha told her daughter that she had beaten cancer.
The tear-jerking video shows the West Belfast woman announcing the news to her daughter.
"When they told me I was cancer free, I just started to scream and cry," Liathán told Belfast Live. "I couldn't believe it. No more treatment. I had beaten it. I just couldn't wait to tell my kids because I knew how much it would mean to them."
Read more and watch the video here.
Ballybeen group providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities
Four G Ltd, which is run by Jonathan Walker out of the Ballyoran Community Centre, is currently providing independence opportunities to four adults with learning disabilities in the Dundonald/East Belfast area and is hoping to expand its service in the near future.
Jonathan, who used to work at Tor Bank Special School for 14 years, says that he has taken a career break in order to start Four G Ltd, believing that more could be done to support adults with additional needs once they have left school. Read more here.
The Co Antrim town that pulled together to spread Christmas cheer
A local business in a Co Antrim town decided to rally the community together to put on a Christmas grotto for children in the area.
Andy Kilpatrick, 35, of northXsouth was chatting to his wife at the beginning of November about how Ballymoney didn't have its own permanent festive grotto.
Three weeks later, after contacting other businesses in the town as well as the local Chamber of Commerce, Andy and the team were able to transform a small box room in their shop into a magical grotto for children to enjoy free of charge. Find out more here.
NI man not letting his disability stop him from living his best life
A Co Antrim man with mobility needs has opened up on the importance of breaking down barriers and not letting his disability stop him from living his best life possible.
Disability blogger and influencer Conor O'Kane was speaking after being shortlisted for a top award at the National Diversity Awards 2022. Find out more here.
Ardoyne youth club on supporting the area for 50 years
During the darkest year of The Troubles, a group of parents took over a shop on a North Belfast street to hold a Halloween disco to keep kids in the local area out of trouble.
But word quickly spread around Ardoyne, and Herbert Street Youth Club, as it was then known due to its location, became a regular meeting spot for kids living in the area.
Fifty years later, in a different location and with a different name, the team at John Paul II Youth Club are still as committed as ever to giving local young people a place to meet up with friends and thrive. Read more here.
Northern Ireland’s newest live music venue opens its doors in Bangor city
In October, a new live music venue opened its doors in Bangor after seven years of fundraising, lobbying, planning and extensive refurbishment.
The formerly derelict Court House has been transformed into a permanent venue in the seaside city.
A small, local, independent charity has been behind the work to revamp the old Court House at a cost of £1.7m after the iconic listed building lay empty for almost a decade following its decommissioning by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service in March 2013. Read more here.
St Gerard's Special School Belfast: 'More than a school, we are family'
Friday afternoons in most schools can feel thrilling, with a buzz about the teachers and pupils for the weekend - but the Friday feeling at a school in West Belfast exceeds most.
St Gerard's School and Support Services is a special school catering for children aged three to 19 with a range of additional needs. All students at the school are referred by the Education Authority and have a Statement of Special Educational Need.
Behind the walls of the Black's Road school, is a dedicated team of teaching and learning assistant support staff, as well as children who bring joy to each corridor they walk down, or classroom they enter. We stopped by in October to meet the team, and you can read more here.
NI man told he'd 'never become anything' is now achieving his dreams
A man from Co Armagh who was told he would "never become anything" after being diagnosed with autism and ADHD as a child is now working hard to achieve his dreams.
Sean Kemp, 22, from Craigavon, shared his story in a bid to help others believe in themselves and be proud of who they are.
While he was growing up, Sean tried to fit in with others and found himself making "a lot of bad decisions", falling into drug use, and ending up in rehab twice. But in recent years, he's been able to turn things around, and is currently on a youth work course and training as a boxer.
Read the full story here.
NI woman creates 'Belfast Girlies' to give women confidence to meet new friends
When Francesca McKee moved from Magherafelt to Belfast with her boyfriend, she came across more and more women at a loose end trying to find something to allow them to reach out and socialise with like-minded people.
The Renewable Energy Engineer also runs a travel blog known as 'Frans Travels' so she decided to use her platform to create a safe space for women in Belfast. Find out more here.
READ NEXT:
- Meet the man spreading mental health awareness from a Belfast roundabout
- 'You're not alone': Belfast suicide prevention group's powerful Christmas video
- Belfast mum opens up on how childhood cancer diagnosis impacts the whole family
- NI man told he'd 'never become anything' is now achieving his dreams
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