Getting a pressie for herself and then getting the vaccine
THE COVID-19 DIARY: Liam Maloney on life as he awaits normality’s return
WEDNESDAY: JUNE 2
THE success of the ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’ clip on YouTube has given me a wonderful idea.
What if I could recreate the ‘Eddie Scratched My Cornea’ incident from a few years back (when Edward, one of our canines inadvertently scratched my right eye with the claws on his left paw), upload the footage and watch the views build up. Then I could sell the footage for a tidy sum. A new career awaits, perhaps.
In terms of making cash from Eddie’s unquantifiable gifts (his ability to speak, chase birds and converse with the devil), I may have only scratched the surface.
Before watching an excellent documentary on Kurt Cobain, I caught a few minutes of the international friendly between France and Wales. What Stephen Kenny and the Republic of Ireland could achieve with a player like Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann or Ousmane Dembele. At least we’ve got James Collins.
The programme on Sky Documentaries about Kurt Cobain, the gifted singer-songwriter who fronted Nirvana, was part of the Too Young to Die series.
Whatever about Cobain’s troubles, his drug use and his suicide (on April 5, 1994), he left a remarkable impact on modern culture. He was a brilliant artist. When I listen to Nevermind, Nirvana’s breakthough album from 1991 that defined a generation, I still get goosebumps. In my list of favourite albums, I absolutely have it in the top 10 along with One More Kiss, an album by Declan Nerney.
THURSDAY: JUNE 3
IT seems that two former Kilkenny hurling stars, Richie Power and Henry Shefflin, aren’t enjoying life right now. Power, according to a recent piece on the RTE website, isn’t liking what hurling has to offer, especially its short passing and surfeit of frees.
Shefflin, who would have hurled alongside Power on great Kilkenny teams back in the day, told the Irish Examiner that there should be a limit put on long-range free-takers. Lads, calm down. If yous are yearning high-octane hurling entertainment, start watching Sligo’s Senior hurlers. Herself took today off and so we brought Eddie to Lissadell beach. Macy, unfortunately, is still taking a break from exercise (as per the vet’s advice). I wonder what effect this ‘lockdown’ will have on her – will she try to escape for a secret run?
We got a tasty snack at Baker Boys and, while waiting, I checked my emails. There was intriguing offer in my inbox from a reputable company – China’s leading manufacturer of plastic pots for plants.
Thinking that herself would love something different for her birthday, which falls later this month, I order 42 such pots (coloured indigo and sea green, a pot for each of her years on this earth). Not wishing to spoil the birthday surprise, I will ask her not to read today’s diary entry.
FRIDAY: JUNE 4
DISTRACTED by yesterday’s exciting online order for 42 coloured plastic pots (for herself), I missed out on Stephen Kenny’s Republic (SKR) beating Andorra the Explorer 4-1. This was the first win for Kenny in his 12th game as national team boss. Andorra the Explorer actually went ahead, leading 1-0 after 52 minutes, but then SKR replied with four goals. While a little sceptical that SKR had to find a nation of similar soccer standing in order to record that breakthrough victory, it was good to see Tory Parrott on the scoresheet (twice). Hopefully the new Spurs boss will realise that he has the makings of a good striker in Parrott, although not a ready-made replacement for Harry Kane (who, I suspect, will join City, who are reinventing soccer as we speak).
Andorra the Explorer has a population of approximately 80,000. Given that this is close to the populations of Sligo and Leitrim combined, why didn’t SKR save themselves a trip and just play a Sligo-Leitrim & District Soccer League representative side? Putting aside my worries about why we shouldn’t celebrate a 4-1 defeat of Andorra the Explorer (because it shows how far the Boys in Green have fallen), of much greater concern is the climate crisis. According to a piece on the Guardian website, studies have identified a series of climate tipping points that, when reached, will bring severe long-term effects for a planet already heating up. In generations to come we’ll all be crispy fried chicken, applying factor 75 sun cream as an afterthought.
SATURDAY: JUNE 5
GIVEN the recent burst of intercounty matches to go to, this was a quiet Saturday. With no game to attend today, I had time to ponder that I miss handshakes with GAA folk. I also mourned the loss of four pairs of old Asics – herself discovered my shoe graveyard where I carefully kept multiple pairs of Asics no longer useful due to holes and worn soles but not useless (in my eyes, at least).
In the real world, there was an army of Sligo Tidy Towns volunteers about – moving mercilessly on stray rubbish like locusts would on a field of wheat. One of them (the volunteer, not a locust), with a bib and a clear plastic bag, spoke to me. “I’m looking for lost souls, mate,” he said.
Later on, myself and herself availed of takeaway drinks from Thomas Connolly (that fine Sligo town hostelry) followed by a tasty takeaway from Flipside.
In between these two destinations we cut through the Stephen Street car park which, given the amount of young people there, resembled a mini-version of Slane or Paddy’s Day in Bohola. At least all these good people have been fully vaccinated, yes? At home, as I devoured the Flipside burger and quaffed from the Thomas Connolly growler of ale, I imagined that this is what lost souls have for supper, too.
SUNDAY: JUNE 6
ANOTHER glorious day and that isn’t just because I’ve a match to watch later at Markievicz Park. Instead of giving thanks with a prayer to a deity or a plump sausage roll, I decided to walk around this scenic town.
When passing Cleveragh Regional Park, I said hello to Willie Parke, who had just completed his day’s exercise routine there. This is the guy who gave me a lift to my first road race, an event in Boyle (I think it was a 5k) in September of 1998. It took place on All-Ireland final Sunday (Galway against Kildare) and I got back in time for the second-half and that delicious goal by Galway’s Pádraic Joyce. Willie was a gent back then – always encouraging people to enjoy their running – and, 23 years later, he’s still a gent.
With the Sligo Ladies Footballers playing their Roscommon counterparts at Markievicz Park, there wasn’t a road trip as such. At least a scenic walk to Canning’s and back for some pre-match victuals.
Sligo beat Roscommon and although Sligo’s display wasn’t without its errors, the home side played with a tenacity that had been lacking in previous campaigns. Fair play to the LGFA, they have several layers of Covid-19 regulations in place that other sporting governing bodies could learn from.
Meanwhile, herself was beaming – earlier today she got dose one of the Covid-19 vaccine at IT Sligo.
MONDAY: JUNE 7
I’VE memorised the batch number. I’m considering getting a tattoo from Shane Travers. But the ink of ‘Pfizer/ BioNTech’ will have to go on my left shoulder as my right shoulder still hurts from where I got the jab. Yes, folks, I’ve halfway there. Vaccination, baby.
At IT Sligo, in vaccination bay 11, is where the deed happened. She said her name was Eithne. She wore a mask, was polite throughout and very helpful (as were all the staff/ supervisors on duty). The needle was long but the pain was short. I was one of approximately 800 who got jabbed today. We were all in the 1976 category – a motley crew of those who have already turned 45 or will do so before 2021 is out. This being Sligo town, one of the people there just had to be in a Rovers jersey. Wearing the Bit O’Red for the Bit O’Vaccine. I’m a little less worried but I will only be fully hopeful when the second dose is coursing through my veins. Meanwhile, at Markievicz Park, my sister was part of the management team for Coolaney-Mullinabreena’s Junior ‘B’ final replay success against St Farnan’s from the west. Rosemary lives for the GAA, almost as much as pops (Willie, RIP), who would be so proud of the selfless work his daughter is doing with her adopted club.
TUESDAY: JUNE 8
WITH FIFA not sanctioning an infinite series of friendlies against Andorra the Explorer, SKR (Stephen Kenny’s Republic) got the chance to show their hunger this evening against, er, Hungary. It finished 0-0. Whatever is said about Stephen Kenny’s management, with his fortunes hinging so much on the quality of players available to him, I’d prefer him in charge rather than two other Irish Kennys, Pat (broadcaster) and John (comedian and actor). Depending on the news feed that I’ve been scrolling through, singer Sinead O’Connor has retired. Wait, she hasn’t retired. Sinead O’Connor isn’t connectly – even remotely, via WiFi – to O’Connor’s pub in Skreen. She’s had her troubles but remains a brilliant vocalist – her talent is what people should focus on.
To paraphase her greatest feat, her rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U, it (as I write this) has been almost 36 hours since the first dose of Pfizer/ BioNTech took the threat of Covid19 away. I went to the doctor (at IT Sligo’s vaccination centre), guess what she told me: “Come back in about four weeks for the second dose. Up the Rovers!”