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| Photos and Text: Donal McMahon |
2022
Good news at last! On Friday, 21st January, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced a general lifting of restrictions, with just a few remaining (e.g. mask-wearing in certain circumstances etc.). See RTE News here. "Our journey through the pandemic has brought many twists and
turns, and I have stood here and spoken to you on some very dark days. But today is a good day. Earlier, my government colleagues and I met to consider the latest report from the National Public Health Emergency Team. That report confirmed that we have weathered the Omicron storm. It confirmed that the rate of infection is reducing, and that
all of the key indicators on which we base our decisions have
stabilised and are going in the right direction. It confirmed that Ireland’s world class vaccination programme
and the roll-out of boosters have utterly transformed our situation. It was our vaccinations and boosters that prevented the
recent wave of infection translating into much more serious levels of
illness and death. Based on this evidence, we’ve concluded that the rationale
and justification for continuing most of our public health restrictions
are no longer in place."
2021
The Third Lockdown began on Thursday 31st December 2020 and lasted until Sunday, 9th May 2021. For the second year running, therefore, the Easter ceremonies were online only. The first public Sunday Mass in 2021 (with a ceiling on numbers and the usual health precautions still in force, of course) took place -- imagine that!-- on May 16th.
22nd October : the eagerly awaited lifting of restrictions planned for that day was marked by a sense of relief, yes, but also by a sense of disappointment. Since case numbers were once again very scary at over 2000, we had still not yet (after so long!) reached the stage where we could dispense with all the safety regulations/recommendations. So while the ceiling on numbers in churches was lifted, social distancing, mask-wearing, hand-sanitizing etc. were all to continue. See the diocesan guidelines here.
CHRISTMAS 2021 A real sign that we had returned to some kind of normal existence at last was hearing the choir sing at Mass in Saggart once again. There were, however, restrictions in place still -- distancing, limits on how many could sing together at the same time etc. (Another abiding memory was the absence of Santa's hut from Citywest Shopping Centre. Case figures had shot up due to the arrival of the Omicron variant, not as harmful as the Delta one but far more contagious.)
2020
First Lockdown, 27th March
'Attendance at funerals to be kept to a maximum of 10 people.' (NOTE, 21.5: Based on a sample of three funerals in our parish since Monday, the attendance figures were approximately 12, 20, and 35. This shows how hard it is for us personally right now, in certain situations, to adhere to general government guidelines.)
Phase 2 : Monday 8th June Note now that "up to 25 immediate family and close friends may attend funeral services".
Phase 2 : Monday 8th June Note now that "up to 25 immediate family and close friends may attend funeral services".
Phase 3 : Monday 29th June Under the heading Social : Indoor Gathering we read: "Indoor gatherings of up to 50 people when conducted in line with public health advice are permissible."
Exiting Lockdown and entering Living with Covid + Five Levels of Restrictions
18th September: Three-week shutdown. Private Masses only.
22nd October: Second Lockdown
1st December: Re-opening + Level 3 etc. restrictions. Public Masses for Christmas + cap on congregation numbers.
30th December: Third Lockdown
ALONE has has available a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am - 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.
- Church Notices
Diocesan Notices (Press releases etc.)
UPDATE (Phase 1) : 19 May, 26 May, 28 May and 4 June
Conference of Irish Catholic Bishops, June 9th : Framework Document on the re-opening of churches.
- Videos
From Archbishop Martin
Fr John Gilligan, 4 May 2020
Pope's Urbi et Orbi blessing (and sermon) on 27th March.
An encouraging video for these trying days: the rebuilding of Notre Dame
