WATCH: The Late Late’s powerful opening segment drove home the importance of social distancing

James Fenton

We’re coming to the end of the sixth week of effective lockdown and, according to some experts, cracks have started to appear in our efforts to defeat Covid-19.

The weather has been good in recent days and Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has indicated that the movement of people is on the rise. The idea that the public is showing signs of ‘lockdown fatigue’ was brought up by Ryan Tubridy as he introduced The Late Late Show last night.

Addressing viewers, he said that “I know that it has been a very hard week for a lot of you watching tonight. And that initial rush of crisis adrenaline has worn off by now and likely given away to a little bit of frustration, tiredness and a certain amount of impatience.’

Tubridy went on to describe conversations he had with loved ones of people who have lost their lives to coronavirus. He said that “while we’re reading a barrage of numbers and statistics, we must not ever forget that behind each number is a real person who lived their best life right until the end. They made their mark on this world and they mattered.”

With the permission of the four families he spoke to, Ryan went on to pay tribute to each of their loved ones. He said that Jo McMahon from Sutton was known for her hanging baskets. She loved the soaps and never forgave RTE for axing Live At 3.

John O’Connor from Cavan was described as a singer and a born entertainer. His funeral was watched online by his grandchildren in places like San Francisco, Vancouver, Australia, Japan and Malaysia.

Ann Woods from Donnycarney had a love of knitting which meant her friends and neighbours were never short of a woolly jumper. She took her tea with the tiniest drop of milk.

Finally, Catherine Hickey from Kilkenny was just 51. She loved holidays in the sun and dancing in her kitchen to ABBA. She was due to become a grandmother for the first time this autumn.

Thes segment was no doubt aimed at driving home the reality of Covid-19 and the fact that every number we hear on the news each evening has real people behind it. Current government restrictions are in place until Tuesday, May 5 and the more we adhere to the rules, the fewer families will be affected by the virus.