A memorial to those who lost their lives during the pandemic has been unveiled in west Cork by TV presenter and author Graham Norton.
The Bandon native joined older people from the HSE Bandon Day Care Centre and local Transition Year students at the Allin Institute in the town to unveil the large waterside plaque they created.
Entitled 'Light to Dark - Womb to Light, Every Spring Rebirths', the intergenerational monument was created as part of the Creative Bandon 'Making Meaning of Covid project'.
Made from Kilkenny stone, the tablet holds clay tiles created by the participants depicting daily rituals, habits and friends that helped them through the pandemic.
The dedication acknowledges that the World Health Organization records some 6.9 million people lost their lives from 2020 to 2023 worldwide due to the virus, and also remembers the lives and efforts of all the people of Bandon who were affected by Covid-19.
Reflecting on the pandemic, Graham Norton told the gathering that one of the most terrifying thing about the Covid experience was that it was unprecedented.
"I suppose one of the perks of growing older - and there are a few - is that places and events and people can spark memories - they remind us of things and bring us back and we say 'oh yeah that it like the time we...'.
"That was one of the most terrifying things about the Covid experience because it was unprecedented.
"It didn't remind us of anything, we had nothing to call back to. There was nothing to anchor us in that experience and it was terrifying, heading into it not knowing when, how, or if, it would end.
He said now that it is over it is understandably that people would want to move on and not ever think about it again.
"Even now when you see those two metres apart things in the supermarket on the floor it sends a shudder through you remembering standing in the queue for your groceries.
"But of course we must remember. Particularly young people and older people who were disproportionately affected. Young people lost out on learning their social skills, soaking up all the world has to offer and older people, who at the best of times can feel lonely or isolated.
"So it is terrific that this is being memoralized today with this beautiful artwork. It is in memory I guess of what we all went through, what we sacrificed and the people and things that we lost so congratulations to Creative Bandon, congratulations to all the old people and the Transistion Year students that took part and I am thrilled to be here to unveil it, there are refreshments somewhere...don't run!
"Thank you very much, everyone".
