It feels more like a holiday than a lockdown
THE coronavirus lockdown is nothing that anybody would have wished for but it isn’t all bad either, at least not for the locals in West Kerry who are enjoying the peace and quiet and more relaxed pace of life as they seize the opportunity catch up on jobs and hobbies that have been neglected for too long.
Micheál Begley, whose Hideout Hostel has been closed since before St Patrick’s weekend, is one of the many business people in West Kerry directly affected by the coronavirus lockdown and he doesn’t see things improving anytime soon. He has bookings for July that haven’t yet been cancelled but admits, “it’s hard to see how things will work out – it could easily be September before things begin to pick up.
Even as far back as January Micheál had decided that the coronavirus “was going to get serious and would lead to an economic depression” and he thinks the government should have responded more quickly by imposing a lockdown before the virus had gained a foothold in Ireland. However, he sees a danger in continuing the lockdown for too long, particularly in terms of the impact it could have on the mental health of vulnerable people and increased levels of domestic abuse.
But there is an upside amid the gloom. Micheál seen the lockdown as a opportunity to rebuild the sense of community founded on mutual respect that has waned in recent years as Dingle became ever more tourism oriented.
As for himself, Micheál doesn’t mind the lockdown.
“It’s nice and relaxing and quiet. I love to read so I have plenty to do.”
Micheál’s neighbour, Micheál Ó Coileáin was positively enthusiastic about the lockdown . “I’m delighted with it; we should have three weeks of this every year,” said Micheál who is spending a lot of time these days reading, cooking, listening to music and gardening.
“It comes at a high price, but we’re learning lessons from this - for example that we don’t need to buy so much or travel so much and we are re-discovering nature,” he added.
Micheál’s son, Ruadhán, was even more enthusiastic about the lockdown, due in no small part to the fact that “it’s great craic being off school”. Ruadhán isn’t a bit bored because he’s too busy walking, cycling, cooking, reading and kicking a ball against the side of the house. During an exceptionally low tide after last week’s super moon he and Micheál waded out to the rarely exposed sandbank in the middle of Dingle Harbour, which was a rare and wonderful experience despite a cut toe from stepping on a razorfish shell.
So the lockdown gets a thumbs up from Ruadhán – the one drawback being that the expanded vegetable plot in the back garden is starting to encroach on the football area.
For Diana Scanlon and her partner Robert Ashe the lockdown has come at a good time. The couple run Ashe’s B&B together and because they decided to keep the the business open through last winter they missed out on the off-season break that is taken by most tourism operators in West Kerry. In normal times they would now be facing into a busy season with no chance of a rest for at least seven months. Instead they have time on their hands and that’s a good thing because they’ve just moved into a new house and there are lots of jobs to be done.
“This is our winter break in the summer,” said Diana as she set about painting the front of the house on Monday. “It’s great to have Dingle to ourselves in fine weather.”
Daryl Broe was enjoying the fine weather as well as he cycled near to his home in Baile an Fheirtéaraigh on Saturday. the lockdown doesn’t bother Daryl very much and he said he’s feeling particularly fit and well these days because “I haven’t drunk as little or excerised as much in a long time. Aside from enjoying the fresh air and the cycling he’s keeping busy offering a humourous perspective on the lockdown in his ‘Before You Craic’ Facebook page.
Gene Courtney is one of the relatively few people who still has a job to go to since the lockdown came into effect in the middle of March, but even in his own bakery the requirements of social distancing have had an impact on how things are done. Gene now bakes from 4am to 6am and after then leaves so that his sons can come in to the packaging and deliveries.
The working hours are far too short for a man who would think nothing of doing a 20hour shift but it leaves a lot of time for exercise and Gene is enjoying that. “I was up Cnoc a’ Cairn and the Stony Mountain for about four hours the other day and it was beautiful,” said Gene. “I feel sorry for the people in the cities though. We have plenty to do here but it must be hard going for people who can’t get out.”