The actions of the few within GAA clubs damage the many in society
IRISH culture has been writ large across newspapers pages over recent days as GAA championship final celebrations and commiserations sparked Covid-19 clusters within communities across the country.
A heady mixture of elation, adrenaline and relief at getting to the end of a season, combined with a pent up demand to be social, saw scores of people pack into pubs across Co Wexford, where the virus spread like a joke about a red card happy referee.
It now looks like the decision to let GAA games go ahead was a mistake.
The GAA has a hugely positive role within our counties. Players, paid not a shilling for the blood, sweat and tears they put into the sport(s) they love, entertain, thrill and excite. Matches spark memories for the elderly among us of bygone years, watching matches with loved ones, or listening to them over the wireless. Many of these people were helped during lockdown by their local GAA club members.
The GAA is part of the soul of the country but we are living in a time when we are being asked a lot of. We are social beings going through a time of crisis, uncertainty and fear and at the very moment we need companionship, friendship, family most we are denied it because by being social we put those very same people at grave risk of contracting a killer virus, Drink is also part of the soul of the country.
Talk to any supermarket worker over recent months about what’s flying off the shelves and they’ll tell you drink, and not toilet paper, was top of the shopping list. The risks of kickstarting a GAA championship season were weighed up and it was ultimately decided to give county and club championship games the green light. Call this the power of the GAA or call it a mental health measure, the dream only lasted several weeks before the chickens came home to roost.
Matches went ahead even as the Covid daily figures spiralled out of control. The problem arose when the season ended a little over fortnight ago. After old rivals met on the field of play, [many of ] the victors and vanquished absconded to their local and before they knew it dazzling daylight dreaming turned into a 14 day long hangover, with many having to self isolate.
Reports of two day sessions are rife within counties and publicans’ bank balances can no doubt attest to how much pressure their kegs were under during heady days.
As I write the country is slowly but surely grinding to somewhat of a halt. Cafes are closing. People don’t know if they have a job or not. It is a terribly tough time to be alive.
Between leaks from Nphet and the government and the antics of some GAA players, we are all clinging to the positives; those we can find.
The fact is celebrations in Ireland revolve around drink.
Weddings are epic booze ups. Funerals, Christenings the same. GAA sporting events are famous for their post match sessions. Heck we’re competitive when it comes to our drinking and have a global reputation for our drinking.
The question now is what, if any, sanctions publicans who clearly and blatantly breached Covid guidelines will face.
Will the farce of weak half in, half out policing of Covid restrictions mean any attempt at a lockdown will have little effect? Or will society continue failing to learn the lessons of the past.
All I have is questions this Monday, October 19, 2020.