Jim Power: Relatively good year for the Irish economy, despite everything

Yet, it is important to recognise the dual nature of the economy that statistics do not really reflect

For people working in non-essential retail, the broad hospitality sector, airlines, arts and entertainment, and personal services, 2021 was very challenging.

This time last year we were looking back on a year that had been incredibly strange, and we looked forward to the coming year as one that would hopefully restore some semblance of normality to our lives. The delivery of various vaccines ahead of schedule gave rise to a high level of optimism. Alas, Omicron has re-written the script.

We began 2021 with the imposition of significant restrictions in Ireland that lasted for almost the first half of the year.