City swimmers take to the sea to wash away their troubles and stay positive in the crisis

MEMBERS of the public have taken to the sea in defiance of the economic and social impact of Covid-19.

Every morning this week, the promenade in the scenic north Dublin suburb of Clontarf has been more packed than on even the hottest day of summer.

Groups of people were seen walking and jogging in the warm spring sunshine and the men’s and women’s bathing shelters were busier than ever.

On Thursday morning, two men were just finishing their swim. Both had lost their jobs on Monday.

Aidan Walsh, 29, from Cahirsiveen in Kerry was let go from his job as a chef at the Two Pups Cafe on Dublin’s Francis Street and was making the most of his free time.

‘It’s somewhere I might come anyway at the end of a cycle,’ he said. ‘It looks like I’m going to have a lot more time to do it now. I don’t know what’s going to happen but it’s good to come here.’

Beside him was 53year-old Gerry Murphy from Artane, who was also told his job was gone on Monday.

‘I work as a chauffeur with Tesla Go, a firm here in Dublin and we drive mostly overseas visitors and the business is just gone,’ he said.

‘I’ve already signed on for the Covid Jobseeker’s Allowance but they said it could take six weeks to come through.

‘I come here every morning and evening anyway but I’ve never seen it as busy as I have this week.’

Aisling Doyle from Clontarf was out jogging on the seafront to ‘keep sane’.

‘Look, I know we’ve cases here in Clontarf, it’s all anyone’s talking about, but you have to get out or you’d go mad and I’m happy that I’m keeping a safe distance from people,’ she said.

‘Talking to you is the only time I’ve actually stopped on my run.’

The National Parks and Wildlife Service raised concerns this week about people out walking who were failing to maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

The country’s national parks and nature reserves remain open to the public but visitor centres have been closed following Government recommendations.

It reminded people that guidelines recommend people keep a distance of two metres, both indoors and outside.

The parks service called on ‘individuals to avoid congregating closely in large groups, even in these outdoor areas’.

It was obvious that wasn’t the case in Clontarf. But 74-yearold Joseph Traynor from Raheny says nothing will stop him coming for his constitutional.

‘It’s good for me, I do it every day of the year except in the very worst weather,’ he said. ‘I’m not too worried about the cases around here. If I stop my walk, there won’t be much left.

‘I do voluntary work in the Capuchin centre for the homeless once a week in town and you see those people and they’re not too worried about the virus.

‘They’ve so many other problems.’