Italia ‘90.
hat’s what we were told it’d be like. When the Covid went away.
The dark interiors of pubs illuminated: laughter, touching, humanness inside.
As one tasked with reflecting the mood of the area I call home, I took up the mantle Saturday and joined hundreds of thousands nationwide to test the waters of social life.
Arriving at my local with the Red Head, I automatically reached for my mobile phone.
She gave me a look as if to say ‘what are you at’, so I put on my mask.
Another look.
Only one sinner inside was wearing one, the long established custom noticeable in its breach, more than in its observance.
Within seconds I had it torn off and was seated AT THE BAR COUNTER!
It almost felt subversive, but there we were: she on the cocktails, me on the frothy pints of ale.
All around people were catching up; genuine smiles lighting their faces over pints of Guinness, bottles of WKD and the like.
A band started playing, kicking off with Radiohead’s High & Dry; a fitting song to sum up publicans’ experience over the course of the pandemic.
No matter how it’s painted an anti-pub bias was definitely at play. The fact that doctors seemed to be behind this is perhaps not surprising as we all know the damage drink can do, but enough of the doom and gloom – the craic was great as the music got more uplifting and the banter flowed.
People looked like they couldn’t believe their luck as they got their bearings in the pub, having come in from the cold.
Heaven knows we all deserve to smile, laugh and let ourselves go a bit after the 22 months we’ve endured.
A self confessed ‘light weight’ for whom five pints is the equivalent of Oliver Reed or Johnny Depp partying for three days; I enjoyed every sup – high on the Taoiseach’s optimistic words the previous night, and the general feeling of hope permeating the air.
Because we never had what the English had in their Freedom Day. In true Irish fashion we stoically did the right thing; playing it safe; keeping the high balls low.
We chased down every lockdown with zeal; cleaned every shopping trolley with icky spray bottles; walked our legs off along rivers, through forests and up mountains; avoided everyone ‘like The Plague’; ate mountains of crisps and chocolate, redecorated our homes, and practised meditation – all the while hankering for a pint at the local.
Well, thanks to generous Government supports and the iron will of the publican, they can still be enjoyed.
Some publicans did the unheard of taking a week or two off during the month. Front page news that would have been when I was growing up! But then Covid has changed everything. We’re all fitter, healthier and more conscious of what’s good for us than we’ve been in our ancient history.
And even though having fun and enjoying music and a pint can lead to a hangover every now and then, maybe it’s worth it if this is a way to reconnect with who we are.
Saying that, many believe we must move beyond our stereotype and embrace a new vision for Ireland and Irishness. We have shown how well we can unite to fight a common enemy throughout this pandemic, and one feels we are on the cusp of something wonderful.
