Unlocking Ireland - an unprecedented thread no. 6

[CherryValanc]

A sixth thread in Craicnet!!

Who thought that would ever happen!!? Has there even been a sixth page before?

Sometimes it seems like 10 years ago! And we all just thought it would be for a few weeks...

Have a lovely weekend everyone

Yes, Life, I think it has been the longest year. Happy anniversary. I really hope things will pick up soon. I miss having light-hearted chats with friends without this cloud hanging over us. I miss having fun (of any kind...).
Here's hoping for a good summer, even one like last year.

I read this article today, sent to me by my brother... www.thejournal.ie/factfind-ireland-excess-deaths-covid-19-5376262-Mar2021/?utm_source=shortlink so... have more people died in Ireland this year than in previous years and why can't we count our dead?? Any thoughts?

I would think it would be better to wait another year, so we have had two full flu seasons. A lot of frail, elderly people would, presumably, have died between last March and next March, I think Seamus Coffey looks at a five year average for comparison, so two covid years might be better to examine than one.
I hadn't realised that deaths didn't have to be registered for three months, which complicates the daily announcements, rip.ie does seem a better measure.
Its very sad to think of all the families who have gone through loss of a member during the last 12 months, and worrying to think how many diagnoses have been missed.

Rollercoaster fan for first baby (8 years ago) Found mumsnet on my second and would never go back! Love the women on here, especially the radical feminists! So much liberal feminism in Ireland - so I feel more normal here!

@LadyEloise

JollyGreenGiantess As you've taught in the UK and Ireland I'd love to hear your views on how they compare.

@LadyEloise I really liked how play focused the first 2 years were but I know the curriculum has changed a fair bit in the past few years. The Sec of State for Ed shoehorned in his love of explicit grammar teaching . In England kids had lovely school buildings, but incredibly stressed teachers. The paperwork was unreal. I hated the Academy system. I taught in a multi academy chain and it was so unbelievably micro-managed. I wasn’t overly impressed with the History and geography curriculum in primary - often taught as a standalone subject ‘Humanities’. I thought the history topics were very disjointed- Great Fire of London one day, Seaside Holidays in the Past. I never felt kids came away with a particularly broad view of even the U.K.

Strengths - no hours of compulsory Catholicism or sacraments in class time, really good science teaching from a young age. Homework only once a week for younger children and only really ramped up for older kids.

I do miss the lovely families and the multi-cultural side of things. I learned so much more from them than I ever imparted.

I’m teaching a multi class of 3rd, 4th and 5th now. Teaching Irish was a shock to the system and I spend a long time planning my Irish lessons and watching TG4. I love it though. It’s a completely different job here. And my kids get to have that Irish cultural experience so I’m content.

Thank you JollyGreenGiantess.

My dd2 has honours Irsh leaving cert, despite realizing she missed the days of the week lesson. She enjoyed the rte lockdown Irish lessons, and is doing Irish duolingo. It's strange to see the effort she's putting into it now she doesn't have to.

Two amazing women on the Late Late Show tonight

Who were they Jane? I wasnt watching

They were talking about Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. One woman's 15 year old died after he had just finished the JC and the other woman had just moved to Dubai with her fiancé when he died.

I am sorry I didn't watch it, my 20 year old nephew died of this a few years ago. It was awful.

It's terrible to lose a young person so suddenly.
I don't watch Late Late much at the minute, many of the non celebrity guests are more interesting than the people with a book to flog near Christmas. I should look at it more often.

Oh God, when DS was a teen I was terrified of this. At the time there seemed be a lot of Sudden Adult Death of young adults who were into sport. I remember the pictures of the Soccer player in England who just collapsed and died on the pitch. At the time they thought energy drinks might have a connection to them.

There seems to be clusters of it - or perhaps you only notice it when you have a teenage/twenty year old family?

It happened to the boyfriend of one of my work colleagues. He was the picture of health.

It's a scary thought for sure.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend in some way. I've eaten way too many crisps..

Chocolate downfall for me again. Damn Tesco and their deals. Really tired today, was up late last night watching Your Honour. I still woke up at 5.30am this morning. Then drifted in and out of sleep until 10am. Always feel a bit groggy after doing that. Bed early tonight. (After another fix of your Honour)

The footage from London of the police at the vigil is concerning.
I'm not a morning person, I hate waking early and dozing. Or falling asleep watching telly and not sleeping when I go to bed.

I've seen pictures but no videos yet. Considering what it was for and who "allegedly" committed the crime, it is quite disturbing. The photos I saw seemed to be police men surrounding the women which seems so much worse somehow.

Have people seen the footage of the young woman with long red hair being dragged away, then sat on, restrained and cuffed. Shocking and heavy-handed policing.

It really is so crazy, surely the police officers are briefed before sent out en Masse. Someone must have told them how to police this.
Why would that force be deemed necessary against a vigil for someone kidnapped and murdered.

It was absolute madness. Why couldn't they stand back and let everyone pay their respects.

There shouldn't have been a gathering of that size during a pandemic I understand that, especially given that I was engaged by large gatherings at funerals, but the police didnt need to be so heavy handed. There were also a lot of children there from the pictures I saw, the police need to show in the public that they are not like that monster who attacked Sarah.
I read a book a few years called the boy under the stairs. It was a true story from a man who suffered horrific child abuse from his father who was a met Police officer and part of a paedophile ring involving high up people. The officer was never charged even after the man went to the police and told them.
Now I know that the story might not be true but honestly who would make something like that up and write a book about it. Especially known what we know now about cover ups.

@Joolsin

Have people seen the footage of the young woman with long red hair being dragged away, then sat on, restrained and cuffed. Shocking and heavy-handed policing.

Yes, shocking. It was awful to see this happening. It seems the vigil was highjacked by people with other agendas. It was very badly managed by the police, however. And that brutality was unwarranted.