AS THE Impartial Reporter marks the first anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic here in Fermanagh and Northern Ireland, it’s a natural instinct to reflect on the many sights of the past unforgettable 12 months that have been carried in this paper.

There have been so many memorable photos, striking images, and above all, moving ¬– and often heartbreaking – stories of loss and sadness, with tales of courage, hope and resilience, too, that it’s impossible to account for all aspects of the year of the coronavirus.

We’ve all seen the world turned upside down, and witnessed scenes that we’d normally expect to see in a Hollywood blockbuster made a reality right here on our doorsteps.

Above all else, we’ve seen the ordinary men and women of Fermanagh facing up to extraordinary times and images – whether that’s the remarkable courage and support of our healthcare heroes, the quiet dignity of mourners paying final farewells to those stolen away by the virus, or the eerie and silent streets of shuttered towns in a world temporarily frozen with fear, to name but a few.

We will always remember such sights – and must never, will never forget the individuals and families left with a sad and terrible legacy by these, and by a thousand similar scenes not carried in this paper.

Here, we present a look back at just some of such memorable images, and human stories, that have been carried in The Impartial Reporter over the past 12 months, to reflect on the impact of this most dreadful year even as we begin now to look ahead with courage and hope to better days.