In Ireland the two big issues that made the headlines in 2020 were Covid-19 and Brexit. The dawn of New Year offered some hope for both.
By the start of 2021, world-wide there were 84.7 million cases and 1.84 million deaths recorded for Covid-19, with 20.5 million cases and over 350,000 deaths in the USA alone. On December 31, 2019, China reported a number of cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, which the World Health Organisation declared an international public health concern by the end of January 2020. The first case was recorded in Ireland on February 29, 2020, and by mid March the country was under its first lockdown, leading to various restrictions and further lockdowns for the rest of the year. By January 2, 2021, the number of cases recorded in Ireland was 96,926 and 2,252 deaths, with over 90% of deaths taking people over 65 or in care homes. The figures for the same date in Northern Ireland were 76,410 cases and 1,348 deaths. By the start of 2021, the pandemic was rampant not alone in Ireland, north and south, but across Europe, the USA and almost all the globe. It has affected almost every economy in the world, with big unemployment, high borrowings, and increased inequality in society. Some sectors have been devastated, hospitality, travel, tourism, and the arts. However, by then, thanks to the collective research of scientists, there were various vaccines been approved for use. These have generated hope that humankind can overcome this dreadful disease, but it will take time for supplies to become available in sufficient quantities for mass inoculation across the globe.
Following the departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) on January 31, 2020, the post-Brexit transition ended at 11pm on New Year’s Eve that year, when the chimes of Big Ben rang out to deserted streets in London because of Covid-19. There were no celebrations, but great relief all round. Four–and-a half years after the narrow 51.9 % majority in favour of leave result in the “ in-out” referendum, it was perhaps a fitting end. The Brexiteers claim that they achieved their goal of sovereignty, leaving the EU, the single market, the customs union, and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. The UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement provides tariff –free and quota-free access to each other’s markets for goods. There is great relief to have ‘a frictionless border’ along the 500km boundary between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. However, it is not all plain sailing. The agreement contains the seeds of future friction and disputes, especially, if fair competition is not maintained, the treat to impose retaliatory sanctions. The agreement does not cover services, which is a huge part of the British economy. The deal will generate new documentation, checks, controls and border queues. These additional costs will erode margins and lead to increased prices. Politically this victory for English nationalism is going to increase the demand for a new referendum in Scotland for independence, and consideration of the future of Northern Ireland. However, despite ‘getting Brexit done’ it appears that issues and recriminations about the June 26, 2016, referendum result will continue for years.
Exploring Mayo by Bernard O’Hara is now available Worldwide as an eBook for the amazon Kindle application.


The print version of Bernard O’Hara’s book Exploring Mayo can be obtained by contacting www.mayobooks.ie.
Bernard O'Hara's book entitled Killasser: Heritage of a Mayo Parish is now on sale in the USA and UK as a paperback book at amazon.com, amazon.co.uk or Barnes and Noble
It is also available as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).
An earlier publication, a concise biography of Michael Davitt, entitled Davitt by Bernard O’Hara published in 2006 by Mayo County Council , is now available as Davitt: Irish Patriot and Father of the Land League by Bernard O’Hara, which was published in the USA by Tudor Gate Press (www.tudorgatepress.com) and is available from amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. It can be obtained as an eBook from the Apple iBookstore (for reading on iPad and iPhone), from Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (Kindle & Kindle Fire) and from Barnesandnoble.com (Nook tablet and eReader).