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“IT’S A DIFFICULT time for everybody,” Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said today after launching the government’s new campaign to help the public look after each other during the Covid-19 crisis.
Everyone is trying to stay occupied, and sometimes trying new things in order to pass the time and stay connected with loved ones.
So, what is the Taoiseach, Health Minister Simon Harris and Minister Zappone doing to keep their mental health in check during the public health emergency?
Leo Varadkar said he is focusing on exercise.
“I’m definitely missing the gym. But I’m still managing to get some exercise, pretty much every day. That really helps,” he said.
Other than that, he is also a fan on the odd online quiz.
“Staying in touch with friends by Skype and House Party and all these new apps I’m learning to use, so it’s an online quiz tonight,” he said.
Harris said it is the little things that keep him grounded at this time, such as getting home to his daughter.
“I see my baby daughter and even she doesn’t care if there is a global pandemic,” he said, pointing out she just wants her nappy changed.
“It reminds us of the important things in life,” he said.
Zappone is a fan of the Zoom call, but she said everyone, including politicians, are having tough days during this upheaval.
“You’re probably looking at three people who are pretty strong, mentally, and have good mental health usually, but I can speak for myself, and that’s probably true of my colleagues here, it’s still a very difficult time, and there are days when you feel lower than other days… that’s normal,” she said.
“What am I doing? I’m looking forward to Friday night, my Friday night Zoom call, with wine, tea or Heineken Zero, which the Taoiseach actually introduced me to. I also do a bit of walking etc,” she said, adding that she also enjoys having a “gate chat” with her neighbours.
With all that in mind, it’s Friday evening – what are you doing this evening to mind your mental health? And what other tips do you have for looking after your wellbeing? Share in the comments below.
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Looking forward to the brits saying saidhbhín, they cant even sat doherty correctly
@Brian Dunne: Lee Mack might have to update his Irish names routine…
@Brian Dunne: Does anyone know why the British pronounce Doherty as Dockerty? There is clearly no k in the name. Does my head in.
@Peter Cavey: because they know it annoys us, aul brits up to their old tricks
@Peter Cavey: McGrath and Moran are two other simple names they can’t master
@Brian Dunne: And Gallagher. They say Gallagurr but yet they can pronounce Callaghan just fine.
@Brian Dunne: how is it pronounced?
@Madra: Sadabadahnnnnnnnnnnnin I think
@Madra: sive-een
@Madra: sive-een.
@Brian Dunne: I would have problems with the pronunciation of Saidbhin Sorry about the lack of a fada I don’t know how to type one
@Brian Dunne: Hope we don’t get as far as S!
@Peter Cavey: yup. It comes from a time when even we pronounced it closer to Dockerty. It’s from Middle Irish Dochartaigh, where the ch is pronounced as in Scottish loch. The English continued to pronounce this k/ch sound, while we in Ireland lost it. Think along the lines of Monaghan (originally Muineachán), Fermanagh (Fear Manach), Gallagher (Gallchobhair) etc. The gh in Monaghan and Fermanagh is now rendered a h or absent in all English dialects, but in some words the original sound has been retained in a much closer approximation in English dialects than in Irish English dialects.
@Peter Cavey: Scottish
@dmcardle: I remember that! I’m still trying to figure out whether I ought to be amused or insulted by that sketch :)
Diversity for storm names…talk about snowflakes and first world problems..
@Canyon: People complaining about storm names – first world problems.
@Canyon: Well, we do live in the first world last time I checked…
@KilkennyProud: in case you missed it…I’m complaining about those wanting diversity in storm names.
They have put the phonetics under Evert, Klaas and Minnie but have left Saidhbhàin to chance. Good luck BBC weather team!
@Ted Logan: This is Met Eireann’s graphic for Ireland. I imagine the UK and Dutch met offices will produce their own version with phonetics for the ones that are challenging locally.
I wonder why Saidhbhín and not Saidhbh. I know noone with that name, though I Saidhbh is familiar
@Goban Saor: Do you know many Everts?
@Goban Saor: It’s just so that we could have more fun messing with some Sky presenters’ heads!
Congratulations to all the team. No longer will have to point at the weather and shout, ‘I hate that nameless b@stard’.
Saidhbhín? Picking a random, barely pronounceable name is the way forward I guess.
Can imagine the person who added the phonetic spelling getting to Saidhbhin ..” Sai.. …what the F …I give up”
What happens if there are more storms than names listed about.. 21 there.. will No 22 be called Aiden +1?
What a load of bl…… seriously picking hardest to say names a poss.
Wheres Mohammud?
Naming weather. Whatever!
They should have got enough practise trying to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull a few years ago.
Should not there be a list from time to time and then, once all the names have been used, to get a new list? Most years, the second half of the list does not have any storm (fortunately).
have your say