So, there was Storm Ellen five days ago. As I am writing this, we are living through Storm Francis.
And of course, we are really living through a big storm, and it’s called Storm Clifden.
The Connemara Golf Storm which we are living through is, I hope, going to end soon. The whole matter was dreadful, particularly to all the people who had suffered during lockdown, who had lost people during the course of the first COVID-19 invasion, and who continue to suffer because of various ways in which they have to miss their families and abide by any new regulations which are being brought out.
I’m going to say it quite plainly, because there is no other way to put it: the whole affair of the Oireachtas Golf Society’s Ballyconneely episode is surely one of which to be ashamed. I am thoroughly ashamed of all who took part in it, and who continue to try to blame either the Irish Hotels Federation or the hotel itself, etc, etc.
That is complete nonsense. Everyone who played in it and who went to the dinner knew what the rules were. After all, they were all grown-up people; they did not have to rely on any federation or group to tell them that they were behaving in the wrong way by coming together in a huge grouping as they did, never mind the partition between the two rooms – I never heard such an idiotic explanation. Apparently, you could move quite easily between the two parts of the room. The whole affair was a terrible injustice to all who have suffered, and continue to suffer, during this coronavirus pandemic.
The hotel in which the dinner was held, the Clifden Stationhouse Hotel, was where Anita Lenihan and I stayed two years ago when we went on our lovely three or four days together. Some readers may remember I spoke about it at the time because we spent our time out in Ballyconneely, which is a village eight or nine miles outside Clifden town and is where the golf club held its competition.
Anyway, I’ve said it quite plainly: it was a disgrace, and I was annoyed to even have the word Oireachtas bandied about the way it was. I hope it is a lesson for everyone that you do not have to follow the crowd; you can make up your own mind on any important decisions and you will find you can give the best advice to yourself.
So, over one million children will be going back to school this week and next week. It is fingers-crossed time for teachers, for parents and for pupils. Going back to school in ordinary circumstances is a hazardous occupation. Now, it will be even more so. I so hope that all of the bumps on the road will not be blown out of all proportion and that somehow normal life in schools, with all of the new rules, will proceed in a coherent fashion.
I particularly think of the young children who have come in from sixth class, from which they missed three or four months, and are now adrift in the whole big school, second-level environment. It is always a big jolt to move from the cosy environment of a primary school with one teacher all day in the one classroom with the pupils, into a crowded school with different teachers for different subjects and constant milling about. I know full well because when I was a secondary teacher myself, for two years I was in charge of the new students in from primary school, and I always had a ready ear open to listen to their fears as they adjusted to the whole new scene.
Let’s try to be cheerful, even though it is very difficult in the circumstances. We had good sports news at the weekend. First, of course, is to rejoice in the win of Katie Taylor as she defeated Delfine Persoon, the young Belgian woman whom she defeated last year but there was much grumbling at what was regarded as an incorrect judges’ decision.
This time, there was no such grumbling; Katie won it surely and soundly and I am delighted at her success.
Then we had the return of rugby. Oh, we had two wonderful games, Leinster and Munster on Saturday and Connacht and Ulster on Sunday. I saw both of them on TG4 and it seems each match was as lively as if there had never been a lockdown. Robbie Henshaw was magnificent for Leinster. Equally so was Jack Carty for Connacht. Now readers of this newspaper will be saying I am only identifying the Athlone players, but it is true: both of them were in fully fine fettle and I hope it bodes well for when all games return with an audience, which I hope will not be too far away now.
The Dáil will be back next week, and not before its time. Of course it should be re-opened early. There will be so much to discuss, not just about the Clifden saga, but how going back to school is faring and how all of the economic indicators are with regard to trying to get people back to work. Then there is the consideration of the October Budget.
All of this is a hefty agenda. Yes, I know there will be lots of predictable trading of insults, but I do hope the Dáil gets back to debating how life is going to continue, because it seems we are now going to have to live with the coronavirus for quite a long time yet.
And what about the weather? I’m sure the readers have noticed how the darkness is now coming in so early at night. Likewise, it is still dark if you get up around 7 in the morning. It is so noticeable now because the weather is so bad. It would seem that we are already facing into autumn/winter, though we are promised a reprieve in early September, that is a reprieve from the rain, but apparently the temperatures will be quite cool.
Anyway, life continues, and I so enjoy talking with the Advertiser readers each week. Somehow, I feel we have built up a relationship and I know this from the many comments I get. When I am out in the supermarket, people would often come up to me and say – Oh I read such and such a thing you wrote, and I agreed, or I disagreed – after all, that is much of what life is all about.
Please mind yourself, and stay at home as often as you can. You are safer there than anywhere else in these times.
That’s my lot for this week. Hope to talk with you all next week.
Slán go fóill.
Mary O’Rourke
