Four companies a day went bust in 2009

Over 1,400 companies went out of business last year, or around four a day, according to new figures.

The figures from insolvencyjournal.ie include hundreds of small firms, construction companies and liquidated household names like O'Brien's Sandwich Bars and Budget Travel.

Some analysts have expressed the fear that the trend will continue in 2010, with the highest monthly total for last year recorded in December, at 156.