Brian Keegan: Rapid recovery and growing job market is a realistic possibility for 2021

Considering the level of layoffs and redundancies, and the devastation of social, sporting, and cultural activity, forecasts stating that the Irish economy did not shrink but rather grew this year is a remarkable outcome.

Shoppers on St Patrick’s Street, Cork. Exchequer receipts throughout the months of the pandemic and lockdown consistently pointed towards robust commercial performance. Picture: Larry Cummins

This time last year, it was fair to say that 2019 was a year when not much happened. The same cannot be said of 2020.

Reports of the outbreak of a mysterious sickness in China at the start of 2020 coincided with the coverage of the general election campaign. Many politicians campaigned on a platform for change, but sometimes we all need to be careful what we wish for.