In this together!
Joe and Isabelle O’Neill at their home in Tara Hill, where they have been receiving deliveries from Gorey Community Support Group.
GOREY COMMUNITY SUPPORT volunteers along with staff at the Ashdown Park and Amber Springs hotels recently marked a big milestone when they recorded giving out 5,000 meals for those most vulnerable in the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
All at the Ashdown Park Hotel said they were delighted to have helped the community in this way.
‘Thanks always to Naomh Eanna GAA, Sergeant Evelyn Redden, Gorey Rugby Club, the Redmond family and a combination of local volunteers linked in through the community alert groups,’ said General Manager Paul Finegan.
One person who has been very appreciative of the gesture by Gorey Community Support is Billy Cushe, who lives with his wife and their dog Colleen in Gorey town.
‘It’s hard to put it into words, it’s just been fantastic. Cocooning is pretty tough, it can be scary and there were long boring days. But seeing Darren coming in with the meals, it made it for us. I couldn’t say enough about Michael Dwyer and Naomh Eanna GAA, Tom and Paddy Redmond as well as the managers and chefs down in the Ashdown. They’ve made cocooning a lot easier’.
Billy welcomed the minor lifting of restrictions, enjoying a walk around the neighbourhood for the first time since March.
‘I’m doing things now that I thought
I wasn’t able to do, and I’ve even done some things twice. I look forward to getting back seeing the family and all again. We haven’t seen our son Liam, and our daughter Muireann comes in when she can. The neighbours have been brilliant, just the whole of the Gorey community has been great,’ he said.
Not too far away in Tara Hill live 91-year-old Joe O’Neill and his wife Isabelle, who is 87.
Although unsure at the start about signing up for the service, reflecting now, they are delighted that they put their names forward.
‘As far as I’m concerned, I’m elderly and I need the help. The meals have been beautiful, with a different meat every day, well balanced that’s very tasty. It has been absolutely wonderful and I’ve never been so well looked after.
‘People have been so kind and so willing to help, I’m very very grateful’.
Celebrating 66 years of marriage this year, Joe and Isabelle have managed to keep busy while giving each other some space as well.
‘Joe goes to his garden everyday and he grows leeks, rhubarb, potatoes and carrots in the garden, he’s happy there. I’ve been keeping up with the washing and drying, as well as cleaning the house. Even with the lifting of restrictions to 5 kilometres, we are going to stay at home,’ said Isabelle.
COCOONING IS PRETTY TOUGH, IT CAN BE SCARY AND THEY’RE LONG BORING DAYS. THEY’VE MADE COCOONING A LOT EASIER.