Sligo active retirement group write about their memories of Covid and present them to local library
Inspiration for the project came from the Folklore schools project of the 1930s when school children were asked to write about their community. They felt that in the future people will ask 'what was it like during the Pandemic'? How did people survive? In preparation for writing their memories a conversation day was held and what surprised people was just how much they had forgotten.
Members of the group were asked to write on an aspect of the pandemic and how it impacted on them or their family. People described dealing with serious illness, bereavement, funerals, births and even things like going shopping.
Positives were also addressed such as people in the community setting up WhatsApp groups to provide assistance to those unable to go out shopping. Through this neighbours got to know one another which was so important as many younger families had moved into the area. Another community met, socially distanced, on their green area for exercises and dance twice a week. The material will be available in the next few weeks, in the Archive section, Bridge Street.
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