While it is easy to make decisions easier when the sun shines, the arrival of that bright thing in the sky this week has been a timely boost to morale at a time when every step forward seems to be followed by two backwards. The feeling of warmth on the face has also served to remind us of the brighter days, as in the actual brighter days ahead, and not just the metaphorical ones we keep hearing about.
If there is anything we learned in abundance over the past year, it is that there is so much to be discovered in the great outdoors, and now with that discovery comes the possibility of creating an outdoor economy all year round. In common with all that happened last year, back before March 13, nothing seemed to be possible in this country, but with the arrival of the pandemic and the subsequent passing of the Everything is Possible Act, suddenly what seemed impossible became possible and then probable.
And so to the great outdoors, that place we pass through on the way to our cars or bus or train. Having trekked the backside of every metre in our 5km zone, more people got a liking for and appreciation of what lies out there. And not just for walking or running or cycling, but for socialising. Grabbing takeaway coffee and finding a wall on which to sit while you enjoyed it became a thing, and not something to be laughed at from the comfort of your car.
And we realised exactly what we had been missing by insisting on being inside all the time. Granted, outdoor eateries in Ireland were/are few and far between because of the climate and the restrictions that are placed on them (and in the interest of all mobility, it must be said ) but now positive steps are being taken to having a sensible conversation about all of this.
It is refreshing to see that there are Government supports in place for the provision of outdoor socialising so that businesses and communities are able to show imagination, to look at ways in which we can make the Irish outdoors a year-round venue.
Yes, it rains in Ireland maybe 240 days a year, but rain can be combated, and heat can be provided.
Every village and community should be able to come up with ideas in which people can socialise safely outdoors this summer. Whether it is the local sports club hosting drive-in movies, or the businesses hosting al fresco events. There is an onus on the local authorities to get involved in this as well, and there are calls this week for the City Council and County Council to see what role they can play in developing an outdoors culture in this country.
Too often in the past, we have used the fact that we live on the exposed side of a rock in the Atlantic, facing the stiff winds and the high rains, but storms aside, the infrastructure to combat these has become more imaginative, more aesthetically acceptable and more robust.
Perhaps the pandemic has done that to us as well, in terms of creativity about where we work and how we will live, and the practices that we will promote in the interest of public health and a greater quality of life.
Maybe soon, Ireland will have open spaces in every city, town and village where people can safely dine, socialise, have a coffee or a drink, watch a movie, create a sense of community through sharing experiences outdoors. It’s very European, but we have the imagination, the personality, now all we need is the infrastructure to make that comfortable. Get your thinking caps on and your awnings fully unrolled. There’s a new Ireland emerging.
