Very restrictive lockdown measures have been placed on the Irish people since mid-March and in the main, continue to be in place. We all know the impact this has had on our own lives in whatever way. Each person will be affected in different ways.

We are still being told that meeting in groups of 4 is the maximum which can be permitted, and that travelling more than 5km from home for non essential journeys is not allowed.

However, approximately a few thousand people (estimates vary) descended on Dublin City Centre yesterday to take part in a mass gathering. (And plan to do so again next weekend in multiple venues)

An Taoiseach has shown his support for this event despite telling us all the very opposite for the last 10 weeks. Rather than taking the opportunity to reinforce and remind people of the COVID-19 regulations (which have been shoved down our throats for weeks), in a pathetic lack of leadership Varadkar decided to engage in some virtue signaling from the lofty perch of the hallowed moral high ground.

This protest should have been condemned in the strongest possible terms by An Taoiseach but his response has left many wondering whether he had the courage to condemn the protesters actions for fear of losing a couple of points of support in the next opinion poll. In fact not only did he fail to condemn the illegal gathering, the only comment Leo Varadkar made yesterday about the event was to show his SUPPORT for such behaviour. His silence was also deafening with regard to the incident at Clifden, Co.Galway.

https://mobile.twitter.com/LeoVaradkar/status/1267567877282058242

Furthermore, not one member of the government has spoken out against the event which took place today. Do the government and an Taoiseach no longer support their own policies? Or do they just lack the courage to criticise certain groups?

By condoning this illegal gathering Leo Varadkar has kicked sand in the face of all of the people who have sacrificed the last 10 weeks of their lives in order to help society deal with this virus.

To all of the people who have:

• not seen parents or children in weeks/months
• unable to visit grandparents or grandchildren
• not seen close friends
• been unable to say a last goodbye to a dying loved one
• been unable to attend the funeral of a close friend or relation
• lost your job
• lost your business that you’ve built up from scratch
• missed out on your wedding day, and the costs that go with that.
• had an important operation postponed

To all those workers who have:

• worked as nurses or doctors in covid-19 wards
• worked in hospitals
• cleaned hospitals
• worked in shops
• worked anywhere in harms way

An Taoiseach’s lack of criticism for this illegal gathering, was a disgraceful way to thank us for sticking to the rules that HE imposed on us, and is going to continue imposing. He’s moved from giving healthcare workers a well deserved clap on the back, to a slap in the face

Here in Co.Wexford, we have had our beautiful beaches off limits for weeks, car parks have been closed, people have been made fearful of visiting loved ones, Gardaí under government instructions have been questioning people as to where they are going. Our freedoms have been curtailed. Thankfully our case rate is the 2nd lowest in Ireland, and we haven’t seen an increase in cases here for almost 2 weeks.

What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis was terrible and an unacceptable way for police to treat any suspect. However, responding to that, by participating in an illegal gathering does not make the situation any better, and in fact may make lives more difficult for those working in our Health services if events like this contribute towards a second wave of the virus.

It is also interesting to note how much criticism the national media had for a Priest and a small few parishioners who attended a Mass in Guardian Angels Church, Blackrock during the week, yet some of the same media outlets have been silent in their criticism of this gathering of thousands.

So to Leo Varadkar and to anyone reading this, who attended the protest; you have displayed a deep lack of respect to all of the people who lost loves ones due to this pandemic, to all those who are working hard on the frontline to keep us protected and to those who put selfishness aside to help play their part.

See for yourself the scale of yesterday’s illegal gathering:

https://mobile.twitter.com/SorchaPollak/status/1267465666845724675