Paula O’Leary COVID-19 Photo Essay
Item
- Title
- Paula O’Leary COVID-19 Photo Essay
- Subject
- COVID-19 (Disease)
- Description
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On March 12 2020 we said goodbye to each other for, what we thought was going to be 2 weeks, to flatten the curve. In November 2021 we are still restricting our movements and following health guidelines in order to control the spread of Covid 19.
One of the most prominent changes to our lives was the wearing of facemasks. According to the HSE guidelines, there were to be worn in public indoor settings such as shops, public transport, universities, banks etc. (HSE.ie., 2021).
This new means of presenting ourselves took some getting used to as we saw people placing the masks on every part of their faces except over their noses and mouths.
Eventually, we accepted this new protective measure. And the new checklist before leaving the house now went; keys, wallet, phone, face mask. We still found ourselves returning to our cars to retrieve forgotten masks before entering shops. Facemasks were now part of life. By 2021 people began to express their individuality with the masks they wore. I will now look at some different masks that people have told me are special or have sentimental value to them.
Masks became a new way for us to express ourselves. Here we see Carolyn wearing a Darth Vader mask to show us her love of Star Wars. She is an Archaeology tutor in UCC so interacts with lots of different people each day. In 2020 all UCC lectures and tutorials were delivered online. By September 2021 UCC had reopened its campus with courses offering blended learning to students. This meant some lectures were online and some in person in the College. Carolyn and other members of staff were happy to be back on campus as we can see from the smiling eyes behind the mask.
Adrian is wearing a Squid Game mask. Squid Game was a Netflix series that became popular during lockdown. Binge watching boxsets was a popular way of fending off boredom during the lockdown. This photo was taken at the Alpine Trail at Fota House in Cobh, Co. Cork. It had been nearly 18 months since I last saw Adrian. He was wearing his Christmas jumper and was in good form to be outside socialising again.
Anja has been living in Ireland for 10 years and has set down roots during lockdown by buying a house in Cork City. She is now Corkonian-German. Anja’s mask may look unusual to Irish people. She told me that this mask was very important to her as it was the only way for her to be able to visit her parents in Germany. She had not seen her parents in over a year. In Germany these types of masks are mandatory and there is no option for wearing a personalised mask. They are called FFP2 facemasks.
This mask had very sentimental value to Jen. She is an SNA so wears a mask all day while she is working. Jen ordered this mask online from a women’s shelter in Thailand that she volunteered at when she was travelling in 2009. This mask was very special to her and made her feel reconnected with the women she helped many years ago when the world was a slightly different place. I have inserted a short audio clip of Jen explaining her mask of choice.
Jen and Aileen on the Dart in Dublin in May 2021. This was the first time they were able to meet up after the 5km restrictions had been lifted and we were able to leave our counties again. Facemasks still have to be worn on public transport. The intercom would give gentle reminders every now and then that mask needed to be worn at all times and advising us that they need to cover mouths and noses.
Aileen’s mask expresses her love of Ska music. Aileen is a musician by trade. Her industry was greatly affected by the lockdown as pubs and nightclubs closed on March 15th. They remained closed until October 2021. Aileen had lots of gigs and live shows lined up for 2020. These were all postponed until the pandemic was under control.
Aileen’s mask expresses her love of Ska music. Aileen is a musician by trade. Her industry was greatly affected by the lockdown as pubs and nightclubs closed on March 15th. They remained closed until October 2021. Aileen had lots of gigs and live shows lined up for 2020. These were all postponed until the pandemic was under control.
Aoife was excited to show me her facemask. It is very brightly coloured and covered in cats. She bought it when she was on holidays in Lanzorote. It was Aoife’s first trip overseas after the travel restrictions were lifted and we felt safe going abroad again. During the 2020 lockdown people didn’t go on any overseas holidays. The ‘staycation’ was a term used to describe having holidays at home in Ireland rather than the usual foreign holiday.
Eoghan is an avid campaigner for the people of Palestine. This mask was purchased from Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign website which helped raise funds for Palestine. It was handmade in Palestine and has a picture of the Palestine flag with the words ‘Free Palestine’ printed across it. Eoghan is involved in political groups and has been to several protests during the pandemic. He wears this mask and maintains social distancing while protesting. Vaccines were only rolled out in Palestine in February 2021. He commented that he recognises that he has been privileged enough to have received his second dose of the pfizers vaccination while other countries are struggling vaccinate even the vulnerable people. A major concern of his is the lack of distribution of vaccines to poorer countries where new variants are emerging while people in other countries are protesting having to take them at all.
Ted, aged 71, has adjusted his way of drinking cans of Guinness to suit mask wearing. He has discovered the straw fits neatly under the mask so he can take a sup of the black stuff while not putting himself or others in danger. The pub closures and lack of live music has had a major impact on Irish people’s culture. Ted is involved in music groups and choirs and enjoys live music. All these outlets were put to a halt during lockdown. However, where there is a will there is a way and Ted’s love of the black stuff would not be ceased by a mask.
- Creator
- Paula O’Leary
- Date
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March 2020 - April 2021
- Rights
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Cork Folklore Project - Publisher
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Cork Folklore Project
- Item sets
- Photo Essays
