One year on
As I write this we as a nation have just been informed that the nationwide level 5 restriction are set to remain in place for at least another 6 weeks. We are now one year on since the first detection of the coronavirus in Ireland.
Advice began rolling in from the powers that be, beginning with: No handshaking and coughing and sneezing into your elbow. Then it was extended to: Wash your hands, Stay apart ‘2 metres’ and advising against gatherings. Race after race, run after run all began to fall foul to this ‘disease’. Then reality bit and everything got turned on its head. The word pandemic was beginning to emerge.
The Covid-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland is part of the worldwide pandemic. The virus reached the our Isle on 29 February 2020 and within three weeks, cases had been confirmed in all counties. The pandemic affected many aspects of society. On March 12 the government closed all schools, colleges, childcare facilities and cultural institutions, they advised cancelling large gatherings. St Patrick’s Day festivities were called off and the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed the nation that night. On March 24 almost all businesses, venues, facilities and amenities were closed but gatherings of up to four people were allowed. Three days later on March 27 the government imposed a stay-at-home order, banning all non-essential travel and contact with people outside one’s home. The elderly and those with certain health conditions were told to cocoon. People were made keep apart in public. The Garda across the country were given power to enforce the measures, which were repeatedly extended until May 18.
The restrictions imposed caused a severe recession, an unprecedented rise in unemployment and caused major damage to all sectors. A Covid19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme were set up. The 2020 Leaving Certificate, Junior Certificate and all 2020 Irish language summer courses in the Gaeltacht were cancelled. The Health Service Executive launched a recruitment campaign, asking both healthcare and non-healthcare professionals to “be on call for Ireland”. The previous government of the 32nd Dáil remained in place during the initial several months of the pandemic until its successor was appointed on 27th of June. Dáil Éireann sat with fewer members and moved from its traditional home at Leinster House to the Convention Centre to facilitate social distancing requirements. The Oireachtas passed an emergency act giving the state power to detain people, restrict travel and keep people in their homes to control the virus’s spread. Further emergency legislation passed the following week.
By mid-April, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported that the growth rate of the pandemic had been driven “as low as it needs to be”, that the curve had flattened and that there would be no peak coming. Daily cases and deaths slowly declined in June and July 2020. In August, a three-week regional lockdown was imposed in three counties following a significant rise in confirmed cases. In October 2020, lockdown restrictions were reimplemented nationwide following a rapid surge in confirmed cases as second wave of Covid-19 emerged in Ireland. The second lockdown resulted in Ireland’s 14-day incidence rate to be the lowest in the European Union with restrictions eased in early December. Shortly after a third wave of Covid-19 hit Ireland after restrictions were eased but the government acted swiftly and on December 24 (Christmas Eve), lockdown restrictions were reimplemented nationwide in Ireland. On St Stephen’s Day, the first shipment of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine arrived in the Republic of Ireland. Vaccinations began three days later on December 29.
ACHIEVEMENTS
In the short 11 weeks or so before lockdown ‘1.0’, Willie O’Donoghue, Larry O’Grady and Stuart Moloney became county indoor championships in Nenagh. Barry Hartnett took 1st place at the Bill Fox memorial 10k while Willie O’Donoghue was 2nd in Doon.
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Mary Louise Ryan and Marie O’Shea took the A silver medal and Martina Moloney, Patricia Ryan and Patricia Blackburn took the B gold at the county senior cross country and the men’s A team took the A silver medal, Barry Hartnett Tom Blackburn, Kevin Lenihan and Gerard Hanley while Willie O’Donoghue, Damien Holian and Padraig Wallace took the B gold and finally Michael Fitzgerald, Liam O’Donnell and Liam Lewis clinched the B bronze. 9 club members ran in the Ballyhoura moonlight marathon and half marathon challenge. Tom Blackburn won the second race in the Munster trail league on Corrin Hill. Willie O’Donoghue, Liam Lewis and Patricia Ryan supported the Tom Walsh memorial 10k.
We had a ladies and 2 men’s teams compete in the first race of the county road championship. The county road relays saw Mary Louise Ryan, Martina Moloney, Patricia Ryan and Patricia Blackburn clinched the bronze medal while the men’s team of Stuart Moloney, Ben Cummins, Barry Hartnett and Ewan Cunningham claimed the gold and the county roads relay cup. Tom Blackburn took the top position in the third race of the Munster trail league in Currabinny. Club members supported the Hospice 10k and the Dungarvan 10 mile while Patrick Holian qualified for the Munster Irish life schools cross country. The club hit national glory again when Tom Blackburn, Willie O’Donoghue and Damien Holian secured a national county bronze in Wicklow at the national masters cross country. Ben Cummins, Willie O’Donoghue, Larry O’Grady and Mary Louise Ryan are Munster indoor championship. 11 club members take on the Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí challenge Kevin Lenihan took on the ultra and 10 hardy souls ran in the half.
A whole host of club members travelled to the nearby Bansha Woods for the fourth race of the Munster trail league Tom Blackburn took 3rd overall and Martina Moloney claimed 2nd lady. Michelle Carey took on the Tramore duathlon while some competed in the Adare 10k and Kinsale 10 mile. Tom Blackburn, Willie O’Donoghue and Damien Holian scooped the Munster road club gold medals. Willie O’Donoghue took an individual gold while Tom Blackburn and Willie O’Donoghue also claimed a county gold. Ben Cummins took a county novice bronze while Barry Hartnett took a bronze as part of the O35 county masters team. In the ladies Mary Louise Ryan took silver
as part of the O35 county masters team and also claimed silver as part of the county novice team, Patricia Blackburn claimed the bronze in the ladies O50 individual category. Our last race before lockdown ‘1.0’ was in AIT in Athlone the All-Ireland indoor track masters where Stuart Moloney, Larry O’Grady and Willie O’Donoghue brought national medals Mooreabbey side, while some club
members ran the Kilsheelan 10 mile and the Kinvara half.
TALKS WITH TOM
Next week Tom talks muscle and muscle fitness.
CLUB REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Our door is opened to all, from the amateur to the experienced. Adult and juvenile training with qualified coaches will resume as soon as regulations allow. For insurance purposes juveniles have to be registered with the club, they can register in the year of their 7th birthday. €20 per juvenile, €30 per adult with family rates available. Registration forms/online links are available by messaging us
on messenger or by email to mooreabbeymilersac@gmail.com. We look forward to welcoming both old and new back to the field when the time is right.