Comment: A lot has been demanded of schools this year 

It is easy to hurl from the ditch about school closures, but the levels of stress, frustration, and anxiety among school principals are unpredecented. 

James O'Keeffe and Reece Kearney Fitzgerald at Scoil Iosagain's Annual Christmas Dinner in Farranree, Cork. Photo: Jim Coughlan.

As we draw to the end of what can only be described as a surreal experience for school leaders, Covid-19 continues to loom large. In March, this pandemic unceremoniously changed the reality of school leadership. 

At the best of times, the role of school principal is not an easy one. Many advertised positions clearly have no stampede of enthused candidates competing to take the job. Principals would say that the current workload makes the job almost impossible.