The Fig & Olive café in Clonakilty, which is run by Orla O'Donovan and employs 15 people, was Ireland writ small on Monday. Every view about masks and the ending of the Covid-19 regulations could be found there: the optimism, the hope and the nervousness of some.
Of the seven staff on duty, two in the kitchen were not wearing masks, two people waiting tables were wearing them, while colleagues behind the counter, and the person on the till, did not.
O’Donovan, who also chairs the town’s chamber of commerce, is continuing to wear a mask, but believes such decisions are now a personal choice.
“So far today about half the people coming in have been wearing masks, so there’s a pretty even split. I’ve said to the staff that it’s their decision and that’s the way it has to be.
“The important thing is just to be mindful of other people, not just in work but generally. Some people will have very valid reasons for wanting to wear a mask, or not and you have to take that into consideration,” she said.
Two colleagues working on the floor decided they would wear masks: “I was relieved when they said that, to be honest. It’s all about finding the right balance and making people comfortable,” she said.
The Clonakilty Community Resource Centre, which hosts cookery courses, bingo, knitting groups and creative writing, held its first morning art class since the rules relaxed.
Organiser Caroline Hayes said there had been no problems so far. Throughout the pandemic there were people entering who did not wear masks for medical reasons, without issue.
“This is no different, we have to respect people’s reasons. I’m vaccinated, I’ve always worn a mask, we’ve followed all the rules and that’s what most people have done all the way through this,” she says.
“During the worst of it, I think some people forgot about personal choice, I’m a firm believer in everybody’s right to choose. People were giving out to others for not wearing masks and that type of thing, taking the law into their own hands and that’s not right either,” she said.
‘Very tough’
Nearby at O’Donovan’s Hotel, owner Tim O’Donovan was hopeful for better days after the trials of the last two years. The relaxation of the rules is one less thing for him to worry about.
“I’m delighted that we don’t have to police customers anymore, it’s been a very tough couple of years for our sector and anything positive like this has to be welcomed,” he said.
“It sends a message that we are going in the right direction but of course you have to be aware that not everyone is comfortable with it. I think it will take a while, but the masks will slowly disappear.
“There will always be those who go against the grain, we had our share of the few diehards out there but most people just got on with it the best they could,” said O’Donovan.
Across the road, Oonagh Croke was busy serving customers at the Bella Donna Boutique. In such a small shop it is difficult to stay socially distanced, so she will wear a mask when customers are doing so.
“If someone comes in wearing a mask then on goes my mask, that’s the way I’ll be doing it from now on,” she said. “Some people are still very nervous but there is definitely a noticeable increase in people getting out and about, too.”
Urging people to be considerate, she said: “I think the mask will gradually become less common as people become more confident. My only worry is that the winter might see it coming back but you got to hope it won’t.”