Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

CJG, Cobh

Contributor

CJG

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

17 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Cobh on the shores of Cork Harbour

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

I became aware quite early by Irish standards as I work in a global industry (maritime) and we saw issues emerge v early in 2020. We were dealing with direct impacts and operational issues by mid-February. I reacted largely by going into ‘mitigation mode’ - as a professional seafarer I’m trained and conditioned to deal in very practical ways with what I find in front of me. I did that until I suddenly found myself at home on March 13th, my facility having been shut down by Government instruction. While it was crazy busy and has remained so since then, it was only at that point I began to realise the very human and indeed community dimension of this... Being at home in close quarters with my family has been a reminder of what’s actually important - people and community.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

Working from home has been intense – it’s a very different kind of work. The natural social breaks aren’t there and you can easily spend the day spinning from one conference call to another, from one email to the next without stopping. I work in senior management and we’ve been in crisis management mode now for a month – it’s exhausting. That said, the transition to a close-knit, small, intimate family life after the day’s work, where people now have time to talk and at length, is a gift. If there is a silver lining to this whole thing, that’s it...

Q. 3 GROUPS

We’re basically a cluster of six; my family consisting of me, partner, our two daughters (18, doing Leaving Cert and 16) and my parents who live next door and are in their mid-seventies. The ‘oldies’ have struggled most to cope – they’re both very active and have found cocooning very challenging. The surprise has been my athlete, social butterfly 16-year-old – she’s adapted better than the rest of us, but then she’s a very people focussed person so more time with loved ones is all good as far as she’s concerned. When the tightened restrictions came into place, we had a row with my parents who were full-on for ignoring the cocooning; they were more like teenagers than the teenagers! When I gave out to them pointing out what their granddaughter was putting up with (delayed, potentially cancelled Leaving Cert) and that it was being done to protect them (my Mum has a respiratory condition), that hit home... they’ve been good ever since.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

The one that is sticking with me is ‘It can’t go back to the way it was... can it?’• When said, it sounds (to me at least) that more and more of us don’t want it to go back entirely the way it was...

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

People are social distancing but compensating by e.g. making sure they say hello to everyone they pass when out exercising.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

No Response.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

I don’t know but I sense something profound is happening and there will be change - for sure there’ll be strenuous efforts made by some to return to how it was before - but something has changed and won’t be so easy to undo...

Q. 10 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE

No Response.

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

Smaller. Closer, more intimate, lonely, reappraise priorities. What really matters? Do you want to live in a society or a community..?

age

36-50

gender

Male