There might not be any sport at the moment but that doesn't mean there hasn't been any sports news, says Tony O'Donoghue, who is extra busy with new arrival Paddy the puppy.
"Since the coronavirus landed on our shores, and even before the lockdown began, we have had to figure out all sorts of new ways to work.
"Much of my job as RTÉ Soccer Correspondent is, literally, ‘in the field’ - or on the side of pitches at least - but since Champions League, domestic and international football and indeed all other sports have been shut down it’s been as challenging as a Dublin derby - or in my case a Wicklow one - to get the job done.
"We have all been asked to work remotely as far as possible, and for me that meant going to my nearest League of Ireland club, Bray Wanderers, and broadcasting live into RTÉ's One's Six One from a wet and windy Carlisle Grounds.
"Closer to home and within a couple of kilometres of our house I have stood outside the locked gates of Greystones United Football Club to talk about the latest news regarding the Republic of Ireland managerial situation, Mick McCarthy stepping out again and Stephen Kenny stepping in.
"On a lighter note I was invited to appear on The Today Show and take on Daithí O Sé in a sports quiz (they were stuck for guests!). Through the wonders of technology and an app downloaded on my phone, we were able to go live from the house - although the satellite delay was the only reason that Daithí won the tiebreak round as Bláthnaid Treacy was quick to point out.
"Thanks Bláthnaid, I owe you one!
"Having ISDN at home has meant that I have studio-quality audio available in the spare room with a direct link to the RTÉ studios. From there I have been able to contribute to Morning Ireland, News at One, Drivetime and Game On 2FM as well as coordinating with a video craft editor who is also working remotely to do TV packages for Champions League and News.
"But you never know when news happens and there has been plenty of downtime too and no football on the telly!
"And with an eight-year-old, Tim, off school for four weeks now, the arrival of the latest member of the household couldn’t have come at a better time. Paddy the puppy is now just twelve weeks old. He is a Lab/Collie cross we got from Milo’s Mission, an animal rescue based in Newtownmountkennedy.
"He was one of nine lovely pups born to his mother Molly and he has brought much joy in these troubled times.
"He is a home gym, a daily workout for the whole family, and an early morning wake up call. What’s not to love?
"He has found things we thought long lost (and chewed them) and has discovered that our back garden is much bigger than we ever realised.
"These are challenging times for everyone, especially the neighbour’s wary cat. But the dawn chorus, the pure joy of play, and the warmth of puppy love have taught us that simplicity is a gift we often take for granted.
"Our daily constitutional has been good for the new arrival to become familiar with his territory but it has also been great for us as a family.
"Already with squatters rights to the couch secured, Paddy has enjoyed watching the latest Netflix series of ‘ Sunderland ’Til I Die with me.
"It might be something of a bus-man’s holiday but it’s a great watch, a brilliant insight into what really happens behind the scenes at a football club.
"I’ve also been reading about football, funnily enough, and David Goldblatt’s The Age of Football is a searching look at the global game in the twenty-first century.
"Apart from sport (and puppies) my other great passion is music and I was given a present by my cousin Liam recently of David Byrne’s book, How Music Works.
"So far in it’s an absorbing read. This is the sort of book you might normally bring away on holidays but these days there seems to be a little bit more time to fit things in. Perhaps its because I’m not watching TV as much (because there’s usually always a match on).
"In order to keep the puppy happy we are listening to more music again at night and John Kelly on Lyric FM can smoothly shift from the Velvet Underground to contemporary jazz without changing gear.
"And speaking of music, an artist we love in this house, Paul Tiernan, the Cork-born, French-based singer-songwriter, was due to return to Ireland soon to tour but those best-laid plans have had to be put on ice.
"In the meantime, he has produced brand new music, a collection of songs and videos he’s called The Bunker Tapes which is well worth checking out on paultiernan.com
"Stay safe everyone and be kind to each other and here’s hoping we get the footy back soon!
