Adam leading from the front
Olympian pulling no punch es in battle against Covid-19
ADAM NOLAN has donned the green vest for Ireland at Olympic Games level, but right now he is fighting a battle of a different kind as one of the unsung heroes on the front line as the country battles Covid-19.
As every day the people of Ireland continue to adjust to a new reality, Adam, a community-based Garda in Bray, Co. Wicklow, turns up in work to face new challenges.
Adam, who hails from The Ballagh, comes in each day having to take full cognisance of the health and safety protocols, and then having to interact with people.
That’s whether it’s through his work within the community, or on the Garda checkpoints which were stepped up over the bank holiday weekend.
With the Gardaí manning checkpoints all over the country, trying to implement the health and safety policy of ‘ Stay at Home’, Adam was on duty with colleagues on Saturday morning on the road between Bray and Greystones when I spoke to him.
‘I have finished four twelvehour shifts and I’m taking up two nine-hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday manning checkpoints,’ he said.
‘For the most part, traffic is improving and motorists are behaving, beginning to observe the warning. Certainly traffic is reducing and it seems the pattern is being repeated each day.’
With no sport to occupy us, and with strict measures in place to ensure the Covid-19 pandemic is contained as much as possible, these are difficult times for everyone, particularly with the shutdown extended by a further three weeks to May 5.
And it’s the people on the frontline who are really going above and beyond for the greater good.
Adam is well aware of what the shutdown means to the Irish people, particularly at a time when sport should be at its peak, having boxed in the London Olympics in 2012.
‘Myself and the two other community-based gardaí are dealing with people each day. We may sweat and worry, but it the generosity of all those around us that’s winning out.
‘We are only doing our jobs but we get such a lift with the support base from voluntary groups around us. It’s been absolutely fantastic,’ he said.
‘We may talk about sport, well, it has been our way of life, but at the end of the day this is all about people’s health, getting people through this, and coming out on the right side.
‘Obviously from a sports perspective everything has been put on hold, but from a work perspective, it’s business as usual for us. We are now busier than ever as it’s important that all Garda work is carried out.’
He said he is seeing at first hand a lot of positive community diligence and is striving to keep spirits high among the public, particularly among the elderly, those living alone, and those living in rural areas.
‘This is a massive change for all of us, everything has been altered drastically. We see first hand how reliant elderly people are on receiving a helping hand through all of this.
‘We assist with the collection of prescriptions, shopping and whatever, and deliver to their doors,’ Adam said.
‘Many of these elderly people are living alone, don’t have family, and live in rural areas.
‘Some have family but they are unable to tend to their loved ones as they live distances from home, with many living quite a distance away.
‘A lot of people are afraid to come out shopping, while others can be cocooned and confined to their homes. We can see the fear in some of those people.
‘We deliver to them, they are delighted to see someone. We will have a chat, they will ask you in for a cup of tea just to have company for a short time, but we cannot enter the houses.
‘We’ll do our jobs as best we can, and make people feel secure that they can get their food and essentials.’
Adam said that being a Garda helps him to witness a lot of evidence of community support.
‘I find that there are a lot of community groups out there working and helping. They are set up to help the vulnerable and help people who have no one to help them. Those community people out there will work and make it happen.
‘Bray Emmets G.A.A. club, as an example, have been simply magnificent. They have 80 volunteers working and making themselves available, covering the town and surrounding areas.
‘It’s the same throughout the length and breadth of the country. Everything may not be ideal, but this is a challenge facing everyone.
‘The government has done a great job in the manner they have worked to control the virus with the help of the health authorities.
‘While there is a high degree of uncertainty out there in the community, all we can do is keep the head down, keep on working, and look after the elderly and other vulnerable people as best we can.
‘There’s a lot of worry in people. They don’t know what they are facing into at the moment, and it’s tough times for everyone. We’re just there to help everyone as best we can.
‘This is a massive change for everyone. We are now on shutdown for a further three weeks. We would ask everyone to abide by the regulations and stay at home.,’ Nolan said.
‘That’s hugely important, and it’s hugely important all the regulations are adhered to.
‘We see what is going on in the world at the moment so it gives a lot of perspective to what the government and health authorities are trying to do.
‘Everyone is finding it tough at the moment, but we must support and help those around us to see this through.
‘When we do come back to a bit of normality down the line, we’ll enjoy it all the more. We are looking after each other, by staying away from each other.
‘I can see it daily that people are adhering to the regulations. If we can nail this now, the quicker we will be back to reality which is what we all want.
‘We all understand that this is a difficult time for people, as people have lost their jobs, hopefully just temporarily, but there are people out there with mortgages and young families, who had two incomes coming into the household, but are now reduced to the government benefits.
‘That’s hugely tough for people. It’s a testing time for people, mentally and physically. So much has been taken away from those people, from everyone, that it puts sport and social life in perspective.
‘Maybe when this is all over, we can get back to some form of normality, and we will appreciate life more.
‘It’s a difficult time, with people being unable to see their family and friends,’ Adam noted.
‘I have been unable to see my father and mother, my sister and brother, as I mix with so many people during work that I stay away. It’s tough, but that is something practically everyone is facing at the moment.’
On top of that, there is the economic situation facing everyone when this is over.
‘Businesses have closed their doors with the loss of jobs. Many of those will unfortunately not re-open which will leave so many out of work.’
As for what lies ahead, Adam said: ‘People’s health is the number one priority at the moment. People have got to be vigilant, think of others and not just themselves.
‘Everything will come back in time, however gradual, but we will eventually get back to normal. It’s tough both physically and mentally on everyone, but the vast majority of people have been exemplary in playing their part.’