Today marks exactly 12 months since the first lockdown of the coronavirus pandemic began in Ireland.

Businesses, shops, restaurants and pubs closed their doors and many have not reopened since.

The once busy streets in towns and cities nationwide were empty as the country braced itself for the uncertainty to come.

Here are some images from that weekend in March 2020:

A newspaper stand showing the effects of the Covid 19 in Ireland on March 27th, 2020. Photo: RollingNews.ie

The residents of the seaside town of Bray County Wicklow, on a Friday afternoon a few hours before lockdown was announced on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan at the Department of Health on March 26th, 2020. Photograph: RollingNews.ie

Grafton Street in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Empty streets in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Empty streets in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Then-Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar at Government Buildings to announce from midnight on March 27th, 2020 and for a two-week period, everybody must stay at home, except in specific circumstances. Photo: RollingNews.ie

St Stephens Green park closed in Dublin City Center on day one of the nationwide lockdown on March 28th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Empty streets in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Aircraft at Dublin Airport a day before lockdown was announced on March 26th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

A near empty Moore Street in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Business owners board up their shops in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Adverts thanking healthcare workers in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Garda Check Points in the Phoenix Park in Dublin City Center on day one of the nationwide lockdown on March 28th, 2020 . Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Saturday morning on Grafton Street in Dublin City Center on day one of the nationwide lockdown on March 28th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Boarded-up businesses in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Empty streets in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Deputy Assistant Secretary General at the Department of Taoiseach, Elizabeth Canavan speaking to the media in Government Buildings a day before lockdown was announced on March 26th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie/POOL

Boarded-up businesses in Dublin City Center on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The residents of the seaside town of Bray County Wicklow, on a Friday afternoon a few hours before lockdown was announced on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Main image: People await a COVID-19 test at one of the test centres on Dublin's Sir John Rogerson Quay on March 27th, 2020. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie