As we bid farewell this week to 2011 and welcome in the New Year of 2012, no doubt many of us wonder – as we always do around this time – where on earth did the last year go?
Of course the reality is that 2011 has been an extremely busy year, with many protracted political events on the national stage commanding much of our attention and blurring the sense of normal timelines.
First off we began the year with much anticipation building around the February General Election, and acres of media coverage given over to analysing likely performances by candidates and parties. The end result of the Fianna Fail wipeout, the success nationally of Fine Gael, the election of four Fine Gael candidates in Mayo, and the formation of the new Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government with our very own Mayo man heading it up, Enda Kenny, naturally proved a huge distraction for all here in the home county.
The follow-on landmark visits by major high profile heads of state, American President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth, all held in association with our new Mayo Taoiseach, added to the curiosity factor. The end result was that tongues were kept wagging for much of the time about affairs of the nation, rather than focusing on our immediate world falling apart all around us.
As the summer moved on and the mild weather drew us out, the world of health and fitness proved a major draw for much of the population, with men and women of all ages discovering that it costs nothing to walk, run, or swim, hence the rise of keep fit and mass participation in adventure sports.
Following a disastrous summer trade for the retail sector, the school term beckoned once more and, with the return of regular work schedules, came the commencement of the lengthy presidential election campaign.
Given that 14 years had passed since the last presidential election, public appetite in the campaign turned out to be enormous, meaning that all the dirty tricks and name-calling throughout made for riveting entertainment.
Before we knew it then it was Halloween, the nights were closing in, and the new Government was heading for its first six-month anniversary. With Budget 2012 looming and only bad news emanating from Europe and the home front, our attention turned inwards once more to just how bad a shape we were in.
Less than a month on now from the harsh Budget, which provided little in the way of incentives for job creation, we face into Christmas 2011 with families utterly paralysed through unemployment. As young and old make plans and resolutions for the new year, more radical than any they may have made before, much of the talk is turning to emigration, and sadly, of the long-term variety.
For those of us who remain at home, whether through circumstances, age, or personal obligations, there is still much to be said for being in Mayo this Christmas. The county with all its natural attractions, its fine towns and villages, its intelligent, warm, and resilient people, will always make it a sought after destination. We are lucky to live here, even in these difficult times.
Time, of course, is what will dictate our fate in the end and decide how we fare in the future. Let us hope, at the very least, that by this time next year, talk has turned from emigration to salvation, because right now, the overriding sense is that we simply want to be rescued.
Wishing all our readers, advertisers, and clients a wonderful Christmas 2011 and Happy New Year 2012, from the Mayo Advertiser.
Joan Geraghty
Acting Editor [email protected]
