{"id":4618,"date":"2021-01-05T09:36:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T09:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kildare.ie\/ehistory\/?p=4618"},"modified":"2025-10-29T12:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T12:26:28","slug":"a-pandemic-relection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kildarelibraries.ie\/ehistory\/a-pandemic-relection\/","title":{"rendered":"A PANDEMIC RELECTION"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liam Kenny reflects on how the Covid19 virus has stricken community life in Kildare and draws inspiration from the virtues of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton<\/em><\/p>\n

A pandemic reflection \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

No\u200c \u200cPunchestown. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c \u200cBodenstown. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c \u200cKildare\u200c \u200cDerby\u200c \u200cFestival. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c \u200cAthy\u200c \u200cCounty\u200c \u200cShow. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c\u00a0\u200cCommunity\u200c \u200cGames. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c \u200cTidy\u200c \u200cTowns. \u200c \u200cNo\u200c \u200c-\u200c \u200cor\u200c \u200cvery\u200c \u200ccircumscribed\u200c \u200c-\u200c \u200ccommunion, \u200c \u200cconfirmation\u200c \u200cand\u200c\u00a0\u200cchristening\u200c \u200ccelebrations. \u200c\u00a0\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

The\u200c \u200clitany\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cfamily\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200ccommunal \u200crituals\u200c \u200csuppressed\u200c \u200cby\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cdreadful\u200c \u200ccorona\u200c \u200cvirus\u200c \u200cis\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200cstark \u200creminder\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200chow\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cpandemic\u200c \u200chas\u200c \u200cshredded \u200cthe\u200c \u200cstaples\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cKildare\u2019s community\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200csocial\u200c \u200clife. \u200c\u00a0\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

From\u200c \u200cCelbridge\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cCastledermot\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cfrom\u200c \u200cRathmore\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cRathangan, \u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cbig\u200c \u200cdays\u200c \u200cthat\u200c \u200cmark\u200c \u200cthe\u200c\u00a0\u200cpassing\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cyear\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200ctown\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cparish\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200cbeen\u200c \u200cblown\u200c \u200coff\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200ccalendar\u200c \u200cby\u200c \u200cthis\u200c \u200cmenacing\u200c\u00a0\u200cintruder. \u200c \u200c<\/p>\n

At\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cbeginning\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200c2020\u200c \u200cnone\u200c \u200ccould\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200cenvisaged\u200c \u200cthat\u200c \u200can\u200c \u200corganism\u200c \u200cso\u200c \u200csmall\u200c \u200cthat\u200c \u200cit\u200c\u00a0\u200ccannot\u200c \u200cbe\u200c \u200cseen\u200c \u200cwith\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cnaked\u200c \u200ceye,\u200c \u200ccould\u200c \u200cbring\u200c \u200can\u200c \u200cuncompromising\u200c \u200chalt\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cprogress\u200c \u200cand\u200c\u00a0\u200cgaiety\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200ccounty.\u200c \u200cYet\u200c \u200cthat\u200c \u200cis\u200c \u200cwhat\u200c \u200cwe\u200c \u200cas\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200csociety\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200cbeen\u200c \u200cfaced\u200c \u200cwith\u200c \u200cand,\u200c \u200cat\u200c \u200ctime\u200c \u200cof\u200c\u00a0\u200cwriting,\u200c \u200cthere\u200c \u200cis\u200c \u200cno\u200c \u200cknowing\u200c of \u200chow\u200c \u200clong\u200c \u200cthe virus\u2019s malign\u200c \u200cinfluence\u200c \u200cwill\u200c \u200cpersist.\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

The\u200c \u200creckoning\u200c \u200cfrom\u200c \u200cthis\u200c \u200cpublic\u200c \u200chealth\u200c \u200cemergency\u200c \u200cwill\u200c \u200cbe\u200c \u200clong\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200chard.\u200c \u200cIn\u200c \u200ccommercial\u200c \u200cterms\u200c \u200cit\u200c\u00a0\u200cdoes\u200c \u200cnot\u200c \u200ctake\u200c \u200ceconomic\u200c \u200cgenius\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200csurvey\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cclosed\u200c \u200cshops\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200chigh\u200c \u200cstreets\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cour\u200c \u200ctowns\u200c \u200cand\u200c\u00a0\u200cto assess\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200ccarnage\u200c \u200cunfolding\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cmyriad\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cbackground\u200c \u200cwholesalers\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cdistributors.\u200c \u200c<\/p>\n

True,\u200c \u200cit\u200c\u00a0\u200chas\u200c \u200cbeen\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200ctale\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200ctwo\u200c \u200ceconomies.\u200c \u200cSome\u200c \u200csectors\u200c \u200cincluding\u200c \u200cconstruction,\u200c \u200c\u200c\u200ctechnology\u200c \u200cand\u200c supermarket-retail \u200chave\u200c \u200cdone\u200c \u200cwell\u200c, \u200cboosted\u200c \u200cby\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200ccash\u200c \u200csaved\u200c \u200cby\u200c \u200cthose\u200c \u200cworkers\u200c\u00a0\u200cwho\u200c \u200cfound\u200c \u200cthemselves\u200c \u200cfreed\u200c \u200cfrom\u200c \u200ccommuting\u200c \u200ccosts\u200c \u200cwhile\u200c \u200cworking\u200c \u200cfrom\u200c \u200chome.\u200c \u200cIt\u200c \u200cis\u200c \u200cindicative\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200ca\u200c\u00a0\u200cpandemic\u200c \u200cbonus\u200c \u200cfor\u200c \u200csome\u200c \u200cthat\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200conly\u200c \u200cnew\u200c \u200coutlets\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200copen\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200cthe county town \u200cas\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200clockdown\u200c \u200ctightened \u200cwere\u200c \u200chome\u200c-\u200cfurnishing\u200c \u200cshops.\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

However\u200c, \u200cfor\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200cmultitude\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cother\u200c \u200cbusiness people\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cyear\u200c \u200chas\u200c \u200cbeen\u200c \u200ccatastrophic.\u200c \u200cThe\u200c \u200carray\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200csmall\u200c\u00a0\u200cshops,\u200c travel agents, \u200cbarbers,\u200c \u200cboutiques,\u200c \u200cpubs, restaurants\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200ccafes \u200cwhich\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200chad\u200c \u200cto shutter for\u200c \u200cmonths\u200c \u200chas\u200c \u200cseen\u200c \u200cthe\u200c once-\u200cthronged\u200c \u200cpavements\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cour\u200c \u200ctowns\u200c \u200cbecome\u200c \u200clike\u200c\u00a0\u200ca scene from a \u200cdystopian\u200c film \u200c\u200cwhere\u200c \u200clittle\u200c \u200cmoves\u200c \u200cexcept\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200codd\u200c \u200curban\u200c \u200cfox\u200c \u200croaming the\u200c \u200cnear-deserted\u200c \u200cstreets.\u200c<\/p>\n

\u200cNot\u200c \u200calone\u200c \u200cdo \u200cthese\u200c \u200cbusinesses\u200c \u200cand their staffs represent\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cbeating\u200c \u200cheart\u200c \u200cof\u200c\u00a0\u200ctowns\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cvillages\u200c \u200cthey\u200c \u200care\u200c \u200calso\u200c \u200csocial\u200c \u200cspaces\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200ccommunity\u200c \u200cwhere\u200c\u00a0\u200cpeople\u200c \u200cchat, connect and converse.<\/p>\n

Factor\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200ctoo\u200c the\u200c \u200csuspension of scores\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cclubs,\u200c \u200csocieties,\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200ccommittees\u200c \u200cwhich\u200c \u200cmake\u200c \u200cthings\u200c \u200cwork\u200c \u200cin\u200c\u00a0\u200cour\u200c \u200clocalities\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cwhich\u200c \u200cprovide\u200c \u200can\u200c \u200cessential\u200c \u200coutlet\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cdiversion\u200c \u200cfor\u200c \u200cpeople,\u200c\u200cyoung\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cold.\u200c \u200c\u200c\u00a0Take\u200c, \u200cas\u200c \u200cjust\u200c \u200cone\u200c \u200cexample,\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cthree\u200c \u200c\u201cB\u2019s\u201d\u200c \u200c-\u200c \u200cbingo,\u200c \u200cbridge,\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cbowls\u200c \u200c-\u200c \u200cwhich\u200c \u200ckeep\u200c \u200cthousands\u200c\u00a0\u200centertained\u200c \u200cduring\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200clong\u200c \u200cwinter\u200c \u200cnights.\u200c \u200cAll\u200c \u200chave\u200c \u200chad\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cbar \u200ctheir\u200c \u200cdoors\u200c \u200cleaving\u200c \u200ctheir\u200c \u200cloyal\u200c\u00a0\u200cpatrons\u200c \u200c\u200cwith\u200c \u200cnowhere\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cgo\u200c \u200cother\u200c \u200cthan\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cstare\u200c \u200cat\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cfour\u200c \u200cwalls\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200ctheir\u200c \u200cdomestic\u200c \u200cspaces.\u200c<\/p>\n

\u200cFor\u200c\u00a0\u200chomebirds\u200c \u200cit\u200c \u200cprobably\u200c \u200cmeant\u200c \u200clittle\u200c \u200cchange\u200c \u200cbut\u200c \u200cfor\u200c \u200cthose\u200c \u200cinvested\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200ctheir\u200c \u200ccommunities,\u200c \u200cthe \u200cpandemic\u200c \u200chas\u200c \u200cbrought\u200c \u200cimpacts\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cisolation\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cbewilderment.\u200c \u200cThe\u200c \u200ctoll\u200c \u200con\u200c \u200cphysical\u200c \u200cand\u200c\u00a0\u200cpsychological\u200c \u200chealth\u200c \u200cis \u200cdeeply\u200c \u200crooted\u200c \u200cand\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cstories\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cquiet\u200c \u200cdespair\u200c \u200cwill\u200c \u200cfill\u200c \u200cmany\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200cconsulting\u200c \u200croom\u200c \u200cfor\u200c \u200cmonths\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200ccome.\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

In terms of religious practice, the change has been equally transformative. Not even in Ireland\u2019s darkest days of revolution and war were the churches closed. Yet all denominations now see celebrants ministering to empty pews. For Catholics, for whom weekly Mass attendance is a source of spiritual and social connection, all has changed. The transition from real ceremonies to online Mass has helped fill the devotional chasm but the change has been nothing less than a Vatican III in terms of its implications for the concept of church as a worshipping community.<\/p>\n

So\u200c \u200cin\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cface\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200csuch\u200c \u200coverwhelming\u200c \u200ccircumstances\u200c \u200ccan\u200c \u200cany\u200c \u200cinspiration\u200c \u200cbe\u200c \u200cfound? \u200c \u200cIs \u200cthere an example where the much-quoted\u200c \u200cvalue\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200c \u201cresilience\u201d \u200c \u200cis evident\u200c \u200cand\u200c that can be \u200cadapted to modern times\u200c\u00a0\u200cto help\u200c our society tolerate\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cpunishing\u200c \u200ccircumstances\u200c\u00a0\u200cof\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cpandemic? \u200c<\/p>\n

\u200cPerhaps\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200cthread\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cinspiration\u200c \u200ccan\u200c \u200cbe\u200c \u200cdrawn\u200c \u200cfrom\u200c relatively close to home – from \u200cthe\u200c \u200clegacy\u200c \u200cof\u200c \u200cthe\u200c \u200cKildare-born\u200c \u200cpolar\u200c \u200cexplorer\u200c\u00a0\u200cSir Ernest\u200c \u200cShackleton (1874-1922). \u200c \u200cBorn\u200c \u200cinto\u200c \u200ca\u200c \u200clong-established\u200c \u200cQuaker\u200c \u200cfamily\u200c \u200cat\u200c \u200cKilkea House, \u200cbetween\u200c \u200cAthy\u200c \u200cand\u200c\u00a0\u200c<\/p>\n

Castledermot, \u200c\u200cShackleton\u200c \u200cwent\u200c \u200cto\u200c \u200cEngland\u200c \u200cas\u200c \u200can\u200c \u200cadolescent\u200c \u200cwhere\u200c \u200che\u200c \u200cjoined\u200c \u200cthe\u200c harsh ranks of the \u200cmerchant\u200c\u00a0\u200cnavy. Soon his aptitude for leadership was noticed by higher authorities and he was offered a place on a prestigious exploration expedition \u2013 a voyage to the distant southern oceans to explore and map the Antarctic continent with the ultimate prize of reaching the South Pole, the one frontier yet to be conquered by man.<\/p>\n

On arrival in the deep southern latitudes, Shackleton fell under the spell of the frozen continent which, despite the harshness of its environment, he found mesmerising in its elemental ice-bound beauty.<\/p>\n

As his Antarctic experience mounted through repeated voyages south he went from being a participant in polar expeditions to being a leader. He never reached the South Pole – although he came close \u2013 but he led men exploring and mapping vast tracts of the polar icesheets in a series of daring expeditions which set new records for endurance.<\/p>\n

But it was his leadership in the face of adversity which has given him a permanent place in the textbooks on motivation and management. His responsibility was great and immediate. The conditions on the Antarctic ice cap were merciless. A man\u2019s exposed skin would turn raw with frostbite within minutes while his shoulders chafed with the strain of ropes as he man-hauled laden sledges across expanses of corrugated ice. There were no creature comforts on the frozen continent. Everything including food and fuel had to be dragged \u2013 mostly by manpower \u2013 from one supply depot to another.<\/p>\n

Even the most well-planned expedition could be visited by calamity within hours as the polar climate unleashed its raw ferocity.<\/p>\n

And so it proved for Shackleton\u2019s 1914 expedition originated by himself on board his ship Endurance<\/em>. Attempting to navigate a route between the ice floes ever deeper into the continent, the ship became trapped in a frozen channel. For ten months Shackleton and his men could only look on as the relentless ice pack battered and buckled even the strongest ship\u2019s timbers.<\/p>\n

Eventually the vessel disintegrated into the ice leaving Shackleton and crew isolated with the nearest help many hundreds of miles away. It was a time when men could easily surrender to dissension and despair. However, Shackleton\u2019s attributes of leadership and resilience came to the fore and, leading by example, he worked to make their emergency camp as comfortable as possible in the face of the ferocious conditions. But more needed to be done, their food would not last forever and some way of getting help needed to be found.<\/p>\n

A consummate judge of character Shackleton selected a crisis crew of six from the larger crew of twenty-eight from the Endurance<\/em>. With this chosen crew he manned a small lifeboat which had been saved from the larger vessel before it went down.<\/p>\n

After an anxious farewell to their shipmates this small crew set out into the roiling seas of the Antarctic ocean to try and reach civilisation. The fate of their comrades left behind on a bleak icebound island rested with them. Their little lifeboat was tossed like a toy as mountainous walls of water cascaded on all sides. Keeping the boat on its heading not to mind navigating by the stars across eight hundred miles of ocean took all their strength and skill.<\/p>\n

Yet in one of the all-time great feats of marine navigation, Shackleton managed to steer the boat to the tiny island of South Georgia where an incredulous Norwegian whaler was the first other human they had seen in eighteen months. Three attempts to rescue the 22 men who remained back at the site of the shipwreck failed due to the ice conditions. Eventually, after he pleaded with the Chilean authorities identifying himself explicitly as an \u2018Irish explorer\u2019, a ship and crew were supplied and a rescue expedition set out to retrieve the crew of the Endurance<\/em>. Incredibly, none had succumbed to the cold and all eventually found their way to their far-away homes in the northern hemisphere.<\/p>\n

Prior to the Endurance<\/em> expedition, Shackleton had been asked to write an insight into how he managed to maintain his own morale and that of his crews when faced with seemingly overwhelming odds on his polar expeditions. After some reflection he put down in his own words the four characteristics which were his personal resources in the face of adversity:<\/p>\n