Brendan Hughes: Brexit, Covid and Van Morrison – the political year that was 2021 – Belfast Live

In the history books to come, it will probably be simply known as Year Two of the coronavirus pandemic.

But aside from the restrictions, R-numbers, variants and vaccinations, 2021 had plenty going on politically in Northern Ireland.

And Christmas is that most wonderful time of the year when we can take stock with glass in hand - and look ahead to what a new year may bring.

Top of the tree must surely be the unprecedented implosion of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Arlene Foster was ousted as DUP leader and her successor Edwin Poots got the boot soon afterwards, leaving Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to take charge.

The veteran politician has managed to steady the ship since those bruising couple of months of party infighting, walk-outs and resignations, although challenges remain.

Brexit framed much of the upheaval as unease grew over the implications of the self-inflicted wound to unionism of leaving the European Union.

The new Irish Sea trade checks under the Northern Ireland Protocol came into effect in January and had problems from the outset, with shortages visible on some supermarket shelves.

Many loyalists viewed the increased red tape as separating the region from the rest of the UK.

Their anger over the deal and a melting pot of other issues, such as the Bobby Storey funeral controversy and lockdown fatigue, boiled over into successive nights of street violence.

Small pockets of protest have continued, but the parading season did not become the long hot summer of unrest that some had predicted.

Brexit remains a problem for Sir Jeffrey as negotiations between the UK and EU on the protocol bleed into next year and closer towards May's Assembly election.

That leaves little time for the DUP to spin any changes as a victory for the party in achieving its deliberately vague aim of 'removing the Irish Sea border'.

Party leadership changes were like buses this year. As we waited for the DUP contest, along came the resignation of Steve Aiken as Ulster Unionist leader.

The former submariner was swiftly replaced without contest by ex-Army captain Doug Beattie - the UUP's fourth leader in four years.

Socially liberal and engaging in media performances, his installation has helped differentiate the Ulster Unionists from their rivals.

Mr Beattie has also attracted a broad section of high-profile new recruits including from the DUP, Alliance and PUP. The party is hoping this will provide electoral success in the new year.

Other parties have also spent much of the year preparing for May's election, with several new MLAs co-opted and a drip-feed of candidate announcements in a bid to build momentum.

Sinn Fin endured its own internal problems in Foyle as MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan stepped aside following a party review of recent election disappointments in the constituency.

But overall the party has been as regimented as ever. With successive polls placing Sinn Fin ahead of the DUP, it is aiming to have Michelle O'Neill appointed as First Minister.

The most unlikely political battle of the year was Health Minister Robin Swann vs Van Morrison as the singer railed against Covid restrictions. Expect Mr Swann's defamation case against the musician to make further headlines next year.

As 2021 draws to a close, is there much Christmas cheer? Not really, unfortunately.

The omicron Covid variant looms heavily over the festive season with fresh restrictions likely.

And several big political issues that built up in 2021 - the British government's divisive plans to end Troubles prosecutions, Irish language legislation, the Northern Ireland Protocol and stalled abortion services - are all being shunted into the new year.

Not much is certain about how the next 12 months will unfold, but what is clear is that 2022 looks set to be another bumper year for local politics.

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Brendan Hughes: Brexit, Covid and Van Morrison - the political year that was 2021 - Belfast Live