CSO: Economy enjoyed strong 2016 before dipping at start of this year

Figures from the Central Statistics show that GDP contracted by 2.6% in the first quarter of this year, while GNP went down by 7.1%.

Ireland's economy grew strongly last year - but contracted at the start of 2017, official figures have shown.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), which has begun using new techniques to more accurately value business performance, said that traditional yardsticks of measurement - gross domestic product - showed the value of goods and services grew by 5.1% in 2016.