Well what’s left to say? By the time you read this, it’ll be old news. The virus is spreading so fast that each day brings new information, fears and predictions. First thing last Sunday morning, my dad and my brother took the decision to close their pub in the interests of the welfare of their staff, customers and themselves. They spent the previous week doing everything possible following HSE instructions regarding cleanliness and social distancing.

Still, by Sunday there was no choice but to close as public discourse was mounting anyway for the pubs and cafes to shut.

It didn’t cause, but rather it sped up the inevitable closedown of bars

“Clowns” is how my dad had reacted on Saturday evening to the video doing the rounds of people recklessly disobeying the pleas of Government, health officials and the general public to take responsibility in a pub in Temple Bar.

It didn’t cause, but rather it sped up the inevitable closedown of bars. But in the process it left decent and responsible publicans like my dad (60 years in the business) and other cafe and restaurant owners feeling shamed into doing the right thing, when they were going to do it anyway before any Government directive.

Farmers know all about that, being labelled by the online mob

That is the sad part of these extraordinary times. We are seeing the good and bad of social media at its best. The good is very good and the bad is, well, very bad. On Twitter, #closethepubs had its merits, but as is always the case with the online mob, the responsible publicans and bar staff were being lumped into one big cesspit with the reckless ones. City pubs and small family-run rural pubs were all tarred the same.

Let me be clear, I was astounded that Cheltenham went ahead

Farmers know all about that, being labelled by the online mob. As for Cheltenham, we had the same reaction which branded an entire industry and the people who love horse racing into one big ball of slime. Let me be clear, I was astounded that Cheltenham went ahead. I love horse racing. I know little about racehorses – and less about gambling – but I always enjoy Cheltenham. Not this year.

I didn’t watch one race. I felt the entire festival was a virtual two fingers to the rest of us, including the small business owners teetering on the brink back home due to the rapid spread of the virus. And I was like most people angry at those who carried on regardless. I know some are good people and I have good friends who attended, but they showed a selfish disregard by yahoo-ing around Cheltenham for four or five days.

Collective public responsibility combined with scientific advice from expert health professionals is the only combination which will hopefully see us through this pandemic

Needless to say, just as was the case with the publicans, the online mob didn’t waste a perfect opportunity to unleash their inner disdain for horse racing, not just Cheltenham. It was like watching somebody getting a few sly kicks in during a stampede. As for the pubs: “Close them and keep them closed”. And Leo? “He should’ve stayed in America”. Sigh.

Collective public responsibility combined with scientific advice from expert health professionals is the only combination which will hopefully see us through this pandemic. Every single one of us must play our part and not leave it to others. However, it’s made the more difficult when hysteria and agendas infiltrate the message stream. There’s been plenty of that.

So before going online, take a moment to think about what you are saying. For example, please don’t brand every publican and every horse racing fan with the same brush. Instead, spare a thought for the publicans, their staff and others forced into uncertain times on top of worrying about their health and that of their loved ones. Stay safe everyone.

Some good advice

Good advice from Irish Rural Link. For older rural relatives, it’s more important than ever to find out their Eircode and stick it beside their phone.