‘Everyone has to up their game’ - County Board
Cavan County Board says it has “no regrets” over hosting recent county GAA finals but suggested there are lessons to be learned by everyone concerning “personal responsibility” on helping curb the spread of COVID-19.
“Do I think the staging of the county finals caused an increase in incidence [of Covid]? No I don’t,” said board PRO Susan Brady firmly, speaking to the Celt earlier this week. “What happened afterwards, with people getting together? Possibly, yes.”
Ms Brady then went on to state that the virus has been spreading in all counties, even those where no games have been played of late, and that much of the speculation concerning any recent spike in cases remains “hearsay”.
“It’s very easy to point a finger,” said Ms Brady, reminding that the GAA nationally played an enormous role in helping prop-up the community response during the lockdown period, not least providing Kingspan Breffni for use as a HSE drive-thru test centre completely free-of-charge.
“The GAA have done everything we can. During lockdown, there wasn’t a club in Cavan that didn’t go out, get involved in some way or other, and help out in their community to help the elderly and other vulnerable people,” she said.
In Cavan, as elsewhere, to meet the desire of locals to see live sport, the County Board organised the streaming of matches where possible.
“We did everything that we could within the confines and as per the guidelines issued. At the end of the day, no one body can be responsible for the spread of COVID-19. It’s a human spread. All we could do is give people their games, and advise them. We didn’t have one pitch invasion, nothing.”
There remains one final game still to play, the outstanding junior clash between Denn and Templeport, which had been re-fixed to be played October 21, but has now been put back indefinitely until restrictions are reduced.
The Senior County Management team, meanwhile, are working with their own medical staff to best advise players ahead of any possible challenge for the Ulster Championship.
Asked if there were any lessons to be learned that could be applied going forward, Ms Brady replied, “Absolutely, and for everybody. That’s for anything, not just within GAA circles. The lesson that perhaps most needs to be learned by everyone in this country is that we have to be personally responsible for ourselves, where we go, and what we do.”
Sunday market being reviewed
Separately, the owner of Cavan Sunday Market at Moynehall has defended management of the weekly attraction following criticism after photos appearing to show failings in social distancing were shared widely on social media in recent weeks.
Speaking to the Celt before Level 4 restrictions were announced, Marian Crowe said she has spoken with the HSE and will next engage with local gardaí to see if the market can continue in a safe manner, compliant with all current health restrictions.
“All their guidelines to date, we’ve followed to a tee,” says Ms Crowe of the market, which has in recent weeks adopted a one-way system, along with increasing the number of stewards on site, as well as providing additional disinfectant points.
Ms Crowe informed the Celt that members of An Garda Síochána attended the market last month, September 20, on foot of an alleged contravention of social distancing, but said when officers arrived “no issues” were identified.
“It’s a six-acre site there with no roof, it’s a big open air area we’re talking about here,” noted Ms Crowe who added that the market has begun restricting selling plots to only those who had been a regular during the summer season.
“We’re having no new traders, because a lot of markets have closed elsewhere, we’re sticking to our regulars only.”