Political year in review: Weathering the Covid storm

The political year of 2021 was another dominated by all things Covid-19. From a difficult beginning to the long road out of lockdown to the reimposition of restrictions in December, it has been a trying year for the government which has paid a heavy price in terms of popular support over its handling of the pandemic

The political year was dominated by all things Covid-19; above: the queue outside the vaccination centre at City Hall, Cork, earlier this month. Picture: Denis Minihane

Hey teachers, leave our kids alone

The year got off to an inauspicious start when Education Minister Norma Foley tried and failed not once but twice to re-open the schools after Christmas.