Not least for the Fianna Fáil leader, who was hoping to lead the party back into power after a difficult decade in the post-bailout wilderness. A year of new words: Covid, Coronavirus, Lockdown, Wet Pub, Cocooning, Golfgate, Calculated Grades and, most unimaginable of them all, Grand Coalition of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. Always guaranteed to come up with an incendiary quote or five during his much anticipated cameos at the weekly Fianna Fáil parliamentary party Zoom meeting. Fianna Fáil TD Marc McSharry and TD & Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, chat as they queue to sign a book of condolence for Gay Byrne at the Mansion House, Dublin. Norma Foley, Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Education.

Source: The Irish Times December 23, 2020 11:59 UTC