Irvinestown folk share their thoughts on Christmas and Covid

The Impartial Reporter visited the town this week to chat to residents about their thoughts on Christmas and the pandemic as Fermanagh faces up to a second unusual Christmas in a row.

Whether out in the street or working in businesses, this newspaper found that people were all very much aware of the latest covid infection rates and trends, sparking common concerns over how the country may have to react in the near future to soaring Covid cases.

Businesses are once again looking at a difficult period, with restrictions in place as a result of the Covid-19 Passport rules, and are keeping an eye on developments in the Republic, where a range of hospitality sector businesses now close at 8pm.

Joe Mahon, Mahons Hotel Irvinestown.

Joe Mahon, of Mahon's Hotel, was busy serving customers when The Impartial called by. Reflecting on the past week, he said: "There was a lot of cancellations [on Sunday] and business is down.

"The way it is now, you'd be safer closed than open. When we closed the last time, we did the carry-out meals, and staff still got their wages."

Speaking about compliance with the Covid-19 Passport, Joe said: "About 90 per cent of people all know they have to do it now, but it's harder with the older ones.

"We have one man who comes here every Sunday, and I told him to download it [the passport] onto his phone, and he handed me his phone, but it was a Nokia that was 20 years old.

"I said, 'You can get a paper [Covid passport] from the computer', but he didn't have a computer."

Reflecting on why so many bookings are being cancelled in the hospitality sector, Joe said: "We'd usually have people in from work for parties, but now instead they are getting their carry-out from us, and it's not the same.

"There were some people who weren't booking [Christmas parties this year] who'd normally book.

"We'd have tables of 10, 15 and 20 people who'd cancel [their bookings], and if you get four or five of them in a row, it's nearly 100 people [that you've lost as customers]."

Joe added: "Hospitality is the worst hit for everything. I still don't understand how you can go into the shops without any of the checks."

Enda Gallagher.

Elsewhere in Irvinestown, Enda Gallagher echoed similar sentiments surrounding the hospitality sector.

Expressing a fear that there may be a lockdown in the New Year, he said: "I think there is going to be a lockdown – it's definitely going that way."

He added: "I think it is putting elderly people off from coming out, with the [need for Covid-19] Passports. They don't want to come to the door of a pub and be refused entrance if they don't have the right form; they are nervous of it. You have to think about everybody."

Ryan McKenna and Georgia McCusker.

Ryan McKenna and Georgia McCusker were browsing the shops and happy to be supporting local businesses. Both however were worried about the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, that is currently sparking dramatic infection rates at a global level.

They said: "We're not planning on going out or doing anything; personally, we don't want to be sitting in our room eating our Christmas dinner [but that looks like this year's plan for them]."

Both said they would normally be out and about at Christmas time, but this year wouldn't be the same type of Christmas for them. Georgia added: "I'm a little put off, with the new covid variant, because it's spreading and we are working.

"This one seems to be a bit more talked about [than the Delta variant or base Covid-19 virus], but I think people are going out and about enjoying themselves, because they think there is going to be a lockdown after Christmas."

Heather and Jim Morton with Rebecca Thompson.

Out nearby doing a few messages and eyeing up some shoes in a shop window were Heather and Jim Morton, along with their granddaughter, Rebecca Thompson.

Although apprehensive about what the future holds in regards to the pandemic, they are looking forward to Christmas, they said.

Heather revealed: "We go to the grandchildren; we go to their house, and Rebecca here does the desserts!

"We are not going out out; we are keeping to ourselves."

Speaking about the emergence of the Omicron variant, Jim added: "You need to stay in, and you don't want to have it."

Stephen Thompson.

Others who were looking forward to celebrations included Stephen Thompson. He and his family are cutting back on visitors due to the pandemic.

When asked if this meant less work on Christmas morning, Stephen laughed, and said: "Well, herself and her mother do the cooking, they just do it at our house."

Gary Brian and Jackie Kinnear.

Gary Brian and Jackie Kinnear both hoped that in the new year, people will continue to shop locally. Jackie said: "People will still spend locally, and this has made people spend locally. There is a good footfall."

Gary, who works in the post office, noted that despite everything, there is still a nice Christmas feeling in the town. He added: "There has been a great buzz; the parcels and all are mad busy, and people are happy to queue and to be out."

Kim, Lea and Zoe Johnston.

Finally, girls Kim, Lea and Zoe Johnston were happy to chat to The Impartial Reporter and informed this newspaper that Santa Claus will be visiting them, with a wished-for item on the sisters' Christmas list this year being a pair of roller skates.

Hopefully, Santa will visit all of the people of Irvinestown this Christmas Eve and deliver some Christmas joy – and maybe even some roller skates.