Life adapts to get back to some form of normality after lockdown
LIFE is returning to some semblance of its pre-March self, with most businesses back operating in town since last week, albeit under severely restricted circumstances.
Sheets of perspex and carefully marked directions are in place everywhere, with social-distancing rules applying to the max.
Traders agree that the single-biggest weapon in the fight against the disease coming back in Kerry is the behaviour of the general public.
“The public in Listowel are top class and our customers couldn’t be more responsible,” John R’s Food Hall and Delicatessen owner Pierse Walsh told The Kerryman.
“On the very rare occasion someone might come a bit too close and you might have to pull them up on it, when that happens they are generally very apologetic. Everybody is being very respectful and careful. We will get through this, and it’s great that we’re at Phase Two now. I think the Government could look at bringing the next phase forward earlier with transmission so low. Recent figures have been very encouraging,” Pierse added.
Mags and Liz Horgan reopened Finesse Bridal Wear boutique on Tuesday. Despite the ongoing uncertainty in the wedding industry, Finesse is receiving a flurry of calls and enquiries.
“We’re privileged in one way in that our business was by appointment only previously, we just have to spend more time between appointments now sanitising and steaming the dresses,” Liz told The Kerryman. The deep-clean work has reduced the volume of appointments possible in a single day at Finesse.
“Before we could take eight brides in a day, but now we can only take four due to the sanitising we have to do between appointments. We’re meanwhile asking all brides to just bring two guests when they come and to come with masks,” she said.
Mag and Liz began the week masked by day but, like so many, found them too constricting in long-term use before switching to face shields.
The brisk demand at Finesse comes as a positive indicator in general; with most of the appointments for dates now fixed for 2021.
“Most of the dates are nearly for next year now,” Liz explained, adding that the current uncertainty is proving very limiting even for couples trying for later in the year: “I got an email earlier from one of our brides in South Kerry and she’s going ahead for August with just four people. That’s so hard – how do you even choose who to bring?”
Listowel Business and Community Alliance has meanwhile praised its members and the public for the way everyone seems to be adapting to the new way of doing things.
“Traders and customers are fantastic, everyone is really being very responsible, and the feedback in general on this first week of getting somewhat back to normal has been really positive,” Alliance spokesperson Collette O’Connor said. “Most of the retail in town is now open thankfully, and with the Tidy Towns back at work over the last couple of weeks, Listowel is already looking fantastic. Things are more positive but, obviously, there are many challenges ahead.”
Notwithstanding the proposed parking changes to Listowel as they were understood last week, there were other fears: “As advocates for North Kerry tourism, we will be strongly pushing for a reduction in the rate of VAT facing the industry and for other major funding and supports for the region in the area of tourism in general,” Collette said.