LOCKDOWN. AGAIN!!
By Paul Byrom
Well it absolutely kills me to tell you that it looks like Ireland will be returning to full lockdown. Heartbreaking and soul destroying for us all. Government are currently in meetings and all we are getting are leaks about what might or might not happen. This I often think is worse. Speculation on line can be very damaging and cause huge anxiety for many. So the sooner announcements are made the better for us all. What is likely is that everything will shut down again. Like in March. Except for services deemed to be essential. The fact that Off Licences are considered essential, is quiet essentially Irish. Yet any form of physical training, which is essential for physical and mental health, will be shut. Mind boggles.
Airports and our borders remain open with little to no monitoring of people when they arrive into Ireland. Again, mind boggles. So many contradictions and so many repercussions. Many face unemployment and many shops, restaurants theatres and small business face closure for good. It's bleak times we are living through.
However, don't get me wrong, I believe in doing the best we can to get through this. I just don't believe complete lockdown is the answer. For me personally, I will be powering through as best I can and hope to have the new album available to you all very soon. It is just proving more and more challenging as the days pass.
Of course when it is released I don't know what level of promotion I will be able to do, but will do whatever I can, and will hope to get some support from the media. Either way, it was made for all of you, so once you get it and hear it, I will be happy.
I am a very positive person and will continue to be so. Just some days are proving challenging during this Pandemic. As Im sure it is for many of you. We need to try our best to keep motoring and keep positive. All things pass. Good and bad.
My family are all well and my grandmother who is 101 is the one I feel for the most. She is not allowed visitors and I have not seen her in person since February. She is quite confused as to where we have all vanished to, and that breaks my heart the most. She is like many her age, and they deserve so much to be around their loved ones in their final days. But we have to follow orders for the best interest of everyone.
Anyway, lets just hope it passes soon and that we will all be together for Christmas. I miss touring hugely and miss seeing you all in person. I can only hope that day will come again soon. I will never moan about lines at airports or early morning flights. Or TSA checks!!! Oh to be in a line at an airport today!!!
Keep well folks. Keep healthy and please follow the guidelines given out by the doctors, scientists and healthcare providers.
Wear a mask, wash hands regularly and social distance. Im assured, and believe, this is the only way we can beat this.
Much love
PAUL
21 comments
Hi, Paul,
My husband and I so enjoyed your program at the irish center in philadelphia last Thursday night. It was just so wonderful to hear you in person again, enjoying all the songs and stories that fit so well together. Aside from all that wonderfulness, I want to just comment on several of the items that you discussed when telling your stories.
First off, I loved when you took your singing to the parking lot outside your grandmother’s window in the care home in which she was living on Mother’s Day. I did see that on Facebook and thought it was such a sweet gesture for you to do for her and and essentially others in the home. I know they all appreciated that gesture – which is truly showing a love for her who did so much for you growing up.
following upon that, my husband and I took a trip to Ireland in 2019 and while we were there in Dublin, we visited the Pro-Cathedral, where my great grandparents attended and where more than 5 generations of their family on both sides attended, were baptized and married. I assume that this is the one you were talking about when, as a child, your grandmother took you to church very early in the morning during your vacation with her in the summers. It was amazingly huge and very beautiful inside. We also wanted to see the baptismal font, but didn’t, because it was relocated to another church, the name of which I do not remember, but that was where all the baptisms now took place. It was very interestng, looking all around at the beautiful artifacts; It felt surreal being in place where my ancestors had worshiped over 200 years before. It was dark inside, from what I remember, but far more inviting than the outside of the building, which was more plain.
The second thing you said that rang true with me was that I also almost drowned as a small child. I was about a year and a half old, and I walked into my aunt’s fullsized concrete swimming pool when my father turned his head. What I do remember from that day was my aunt pulling me up from the bathingsuit straps and feeling all filled up with water and was gasping for breath while trying to remove the water from my nose, mouth ad clogged ears. It has been an event to affect me throughout my life, especially as children and teenagers try to dunk one another under the water. I also do not like to swim under water or ride the waves in the ocean. I find it terrifying. I did learn to swim and even swam on a team in high school, but being underneath was not my thing. so, this one person who understands why you have had such difficulty wanting and learning to swim. I do get that and while you were older than I was when this happened, you probably were much more traumatized. I give you a lot of credit for facing your fears and learning to swim as a adult. Cudos!
I have passed your prochure for your last trip to Ireland along to my sister-in-law, who has been dying to go on one of your tours. As this will be your last one next May, I suppose this will be here last chance. If she is likely to come, I will probably be hopping along too. I do hope that this happens.
I truly wish you well with the turning point in your career as you are giving up what you know for something else that I expect you have planned for your future. All best wishes and safe travels in your new persuits. But, know, I will be following you and keeping up with your career.
Warm regards,
Elaine Thress
I Ordered snd paid for cd this is my moment, but received a christmas cd. What happened?
I have never been to Europe,
But I an considering a trip to Ireland in MAY of 2022. Beginning to plan now.you are high in my list of sights to see.
I received your 2 older wonderful albums, love them both. The xmas one is perfect and just in time as we all need a lift about now.
May I suggest for a merch sale item, a rubber wrist band color green w your name and the name of your new album. Keith did this with his"on mercy street" I wear it everyday. Very durable thick. Would be proud to wear yours.
Nothing can destroy Ireland! They’ve been through so many hardships throughout history. Every generation experiences something. This is yours. Get your strength from history. It will teach you courage and fortitude. The world is in chaos. It will survive. IReland will survive.