Chronicles of COVID-19

Title

Mairead, Co Cork

Contributor

Mairead

Subject

COVID-19 (Disease)

Coverage

Ireland; Cork; 2020s:

Date

14 April 2020

Language

English

Creator

Cork Folklore Project

Rights

Cork Folklore Project

Description

GENERAL PHYSICAL LOCATION RIGHT NOW

Ballinhassig, Co Cork

USUAL LOCATION

Same

Q. 1 STAGES

When we first heard of Coronavirus in January 2020, we heard that this was a very bad flu that was centred around Wuhan in China. At the time we really had no concept that it was going to affect us in any way. We went about our daily business as normal.
I am a recently retired nurse manager and a fulltime student in Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa and along with my class we have been engaged in assignments, field trips each week and enjoying the experience of college in my later years! As it progressed into February, we were busily preparing to go on a 4 day field trip to Northern Ireland on the last week of the month. We heard about the cruise liner The Diamond Princess that was stricken with this flu and which was to all intents and purpose stricken. Then the spread to Italy and of course people were at the time enjoying ski holidays and school trips were off on ski trips to Europe.
We were safe in Ireland!! The day we returned from Belfast, February 28th, we learned that the first case in Ireland had been diagnosed in Belfast.
We are now at Tuesday after Easter April 14th and we are in lockdown for 2 1/2 weeks already and heading into 3 more weeks of isolation and increased restrictions. So many people have died and fear has been rampant.

Q. 2 EVERYDAY ROUTINE

When the college closed on March 12th, we had no idea how long it was going to be for but anticipated that it would be at least until April 19th after the Easter break. That last day we were trying to figure out how we could all stay in touch. We already had a WhatsApp group but not everyone was on that as a few of the younger folk did not have smartphones (I was surprised by
this). We had shared a link for Skype. We had assignments to complete so initially we were trying to get motivated to complete these; at least I was struggling with that. I needed the structure and atmosphere of college to get in the frame!
Then we discovered Zoom!! This gave us a digital platform to have meetings with our teachers each week. Some of us communicated separately on FaceTime or WhatsApp video and this has been a great support. As the weeks have progressed we have settled into some kind of routine but it is not the same and I really miss the routine and the people.
I try to spend a few hours each day at college stuff but the weather has been so lovely it has been calling me to the garden and I have managed to do more tidying there and am away ahead of where I would normally be. Thanks God to be living in a rural area and to have a garden to pass the time.
I have also managed to declutter 2 rooms so far, we have power washed the house, the fascia and soffit (first time on 6 yrs)), the driveway!! Much still to do but we have a few more weeks at home.
We got the deck prepped for painting and then could not get any paint!! Hardware stores are of course closed and unfortunately, I was not prepared for the suddenness of these closures over 2 weeks ago.
My 80 yr old neighbour is on his own and I shop for him. He is a widower whose 3 adult children live in London, Melbourne and New York. He has daily contact with them thanks to modern technology. I had to stop going into his house 2 weeks ago now when the restrictions increased and he is now getting used to 'cocooning'. He walks around his garden now rather than around the neighbourhood. I go to supermarket (Dunnes stores) once a week and go to the local shop as required for him and us. They are great in the local shop
Initially there was much madness around panic buying with toilet rolls being top of the list for some mad reason. It almost became of manic proportions and was quite contagious. One of the store staff told me that she herself even has loads at home even though we had been assured that there was no need for stockpiling!
One of the saddest aspects of this has been the necessary restrictions around funerals. Having been personally affected by the Irish funeral ritual formerly, it is just so tragic that our loved ones are not receiving their final farewell in the manner they deserve, family members cannot be there with the person as they take their final breath if they are hospitalised. A nurse is now regularly the person who is spending final moments with people, all gowned up and disguised by the mask and visor, and gloved hands, How terribly impersonal and so heart breaking. Heart breaking too for the wonderful nursing staff who are all being personally affected by this. People are not afforded an opportunity to go through our normal mourning process and long term I fear that there will be much reactive depression in relation to this and other aspects of the social isolation.
Weddings too have of course been postponed and I was to be celebrant for one such wedding which will now take place in October, please God.

Q. 3 GROUPS

Some of the older folk are struggling!! I encountered an 89 year old lady driving herself to the graveyard yesterday!!I thought the young people would struggle more but now it appears that locally at least, they are doing ok in the main. It must be so hard for them though. Young people are using their technology to stay occupied. In our local neighbourhood it is mostly over 50's, a few young couples with babies and many are retired, everyone is in their garden. Some families have their older students back home. Many people are working from home, including my husband whose work at home really consists of online meetings as his work is fairly hands on and the offices are closed.
Our family and friends groups use WhattsApp mostly for sharing thoughts and jokes throughout the day and to be honest this has been very entertaining. The humour and the wit shared!!! Hilarious! So many Toilet paper jokes, now one of our groups has toilet roll earrings as our signature photo!
I feel so bad for people who are living in situations that are stressful. I don't know how people who are living with domestic abuse are managing at all, it must be so difficult for them. They are not confined by the 2 km restriction that we are bound to at present.

Q. 4 WAYS WE TALK

We use Zoom a few times a week for social as well as business meetings. There are many groups also using an app called House party. Microsoft has a Teams package and official business meetings occur using this. Socially people are having nights 'in' instead of 'out' with their friends online, sharing a coffee or more regularly a drink. I myself got quite intoxicated during one such 'party' recently! Dress up and Quiz nights are currently very popular.
I have discovered that I can have FaceTime with my 2 daughters and their kids at same time and I can do WhattsApp video with up to 3 people. That's a great novelty and of course because the younger folk are at home with parents we are managing to have conversations with them that we may otherwise only have once a year!
People are suggesting that this is a new way of interaction that will continue into the future.
People were very frightened and worried but are managing to get by with humour. When you hear that 26% of victims are health care workers it is very scary and sobering.
I spoke to my 91 year old aunt on the phone yesterday and she told me she is not afraid to die now, she has done all she wants (she is quite healthy). She lives alone but her son and family are close by and son calls to her each night to tuck her in and say her prayers with her. She is not frightened and said her memory of time of diphtheria was as bad.

Q. 5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Our community set up a Help and Support team within first week of outbreak, the number on this response team is about 90 at this point and there have only been a few calls on it for assistance so far, for medication collection and groceries as well as electricity break down.
The GAA nationally later came up with similar initiative and Gardaí are providing some of the community assistance.
People are shopping for their older or vulnerable neighbours and time slots are prioritised for these at supermarkets. Nationally at stores 2 metre markings set out the visual cues for shoppers and queues are managed very tightly with cleaning of hands and trolleys closely supervised.
Gardaí are now given powers to charge people who are flouting the restrictions and signs have been erected asking How far are you from home? We are supposed to stay within 2 kms from home except for shopping and medical reasons. One former journalist in Dublin accosted a Garda and videoed her interaction in which she berated the poor guy for stopping people rather than fighting crime. She uploaded it via social media and thankfully, in the main, the Garda won the public support. She really maddened me.
I think our government are doing an amazing job and have acted decisively in closing down our country. If we had another election (had one in Feb) the outcome would be very much different for sure!!
Likewise, I think the HSE are doing the best they can to ensure that we are cared for. The worldwide shortage of PPE and testing systems is a challenge but I am delighted that local entrepreneurs and schools have become engaged on developing our own supply.

Q. 6 THOUGHTS AND PREOCCUPATIONS

Wondering when I will actually get to hug my children and grandchildren, my sister and brothers as well as the other people I care about.
When I visit my son's grave (he was 25 when he died tragically) I think about death and I think I am not afraid to die as I would be joined with him I hope.
I have started to pray again and now when I can't sleep at night I am more likely to pray the Rosary.

Q. 7 SIMILARITY TO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

No Response.

Q. 8 CHALLENGES AND COPING

No Response.

Q. 9 THE FUTURE

I think this is going to change how we live and work. There will be one hell of a party when we are able to in my house!
I will value all the time I can spend personally with my family.
I think we are going to remain pedantic about hand hygiene and germs.
I think working from home is going to be a new norm for many organisations with a subsequent effect on office space. Hot desks will be added and corporate business travel will be much reduced with the further development of videoconferencing and digital meetings.
I think it will be very difficult to sell cruise holidays as there has been a number of very difficult cases and situations on board.

Q. 10 IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT SPRINGS TO MIND?

Interesting, puts you thinking!! As I have recently been enthralled by the Schools Collection on Duchas.ie, I have shared it with family and friends widely and encouraged their participation

Q. 11 IN A NUTSHELL

Our social outlets have become conversations over the wall with neighbours as they pass by for their 2 km walk. Or video calls with family. We yearn for personal contact.
We are so grateful for the developments that have occurred particularly in relation to digital media, videoconferencing and improvements on broadband.
We have no sport!! This is a major loss. We watch a lot of it and our daughter is a sports broadcaster, so her work life is totally changed. She is spending so much time with her young children, they will either be sick of exercise or superstars by the time this finished!!
We have a motorbike racing team and were to be going to World Superbikes this year, with racing taking place in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Holland and England!! I February we were making our final arrangements for the year, now we don't know if this will happen at all this year!!
No GAA!! On the radio they are talking about the freedom for some who are managing to spend time with their families instead.
So much has changed!!

age

51-69

gender

Female