‘People are doing what they are told’

We may not know when life will return to normal but there is one thing for sure – when it does most of our gardens and houses will never have looked better.

Proof of people’s new-found enthusiasm for DIY projects and gardening – perfect distractions in these difficult times – could be seen in the steady line of customers waiting outside McCormack’s Topline hardware store on the main street of Delvin on Friday morning.

While there was plenty of chat among staff and customers, everyone was adhering to social distance guidelines.

The almost unbroken good weather since the country went into lockdown in everything but name last month, has seen people tackling those gardening and DIY projects that they had put on the long finger.

“Business is good. Compost, paint anything like that has been very popular, “ John McCormack told the Westmeath Examiner.

McCormack’s, like all of the other businesses that the Westmeath Examiner visited in Delvin, had altered the way they do things since the Covid-19 crisis turned our world temporarily upside down.

“Nobody is allowed into the shop. Everybody stays outside. The table [in front of the door] keeps them from walking in. Everyone is very happy do it.”

While the amount of traffic going through the town’s main street was a trickle compared to what you would usually see on a weekday, there were plenty of people around doing what they would usually do on a Friday.

Of course, before the coronavirus hit our shores last month, people didn’t have to worry about staying two metres away from the person passing them in the street or in the queue in the local shop.

John Coll, proprietor of Lenihan’s Craft Butchers, is allowing only two customers at any one time into his premises and people are only too happy to adhere to the new restrictions.

“Before this you could have five or six or 10 in the shop at a time but now it’s only two. Everyone is keeping their distance. We put up perspex [on the counters] to keep everyone safe, including ourselves. If we get it [the virus], we have to close. We have to keep the place open for the locals.”

With many people eager to limit their interaction with other people to as few as possible, many smaller independent retailers around the country are reporting an upsurge in custom.

John says that he too has seen an increase in trade as people are staying local, something that he hopes continues when the restrictions are lifted.

“I hope they do [continue to shop local] when this is all over. We are all working hard and working longer hours to keep the shop stocked. Hopefully they will appreciate it and come back when all this is over.”

As for how the people of Delvin are coping, John says that they seem to be doing “well enough”.

“Around here people seem to be doing what they are told, keeping their distance.

“If everyone does that, hopefully this thing will keep away from us all. These are worrying times but everyone seems to be doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

One couple who are following the guidelines to the letter are Frank and Jane Meredith. Aside from going out for their daily walks within the two kilometre radius of their home, they say they are busy trying to keep themselves busy.

“Loads of gardening and loads of painting” have taken place over that last month.

“That’s all you can you do, try and keep yourselves busy. We are getting out and doing our walking and getting a few essentials in the shop.

“I’d say that local shops are doing well because no one is travelling in to Mullingar,” Frank said.

When the Westmeath Examiner stopped the couple for a chat, they were out for a walk with their dog Buddy and were going to pick up some shopping for a friend who is currently cocooning.

“We probably do the two kilometres two or three times a day. That’s all you can do, and we keep our distance when we are out. The dog has never been fitter.”