Reflecting on St. Patrick's Day 2020: The Taoiseach Announces Lockdowns
By Steve
St. Patrick’s Day 2020. It’s a date that’s etched into the memory of every Irish person. The day the craic was supposed to be mighty, the parades were ready to roll, and the pubs were primed for a roaring trade. But instead, it became the day the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, stood in Washington D.C. and announced that Ireland was going into lockdown. I remember it like it was yesterday.
Jenny and I had planned a quiet day with the kids. Sarah, then just shy of three, was excited about the idea of seeing a parade, even if it was just on the telly. Adam, at five, was more interested in the green cupcakes Jenny had baked. We’d stocked up on a few cans of Guinness (for the adults, obviously) and were ready to settle in for a day of family fun. But then the news broke, and everything changed.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t fully grasp the gravity of it at first. Like most people, I thought it would be a few weeks, maybe a month, and then life would go back to normal. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, it became clear that this was going to be a long haul. And for someone like me, who’s always been a bit of a worrier, the uncertainty was a killer.
At the time, I was still adjusting to my TRT regimen. I’d started on Sustanon and HCG a few months earlier, and while it had made a world of difference to my energy levels and mood, the stress of the pandemic was a whole new challenge. I found myself leaning on the lessons I’d learned during my mental health journey—staying active, keeping a routine, and not being afraid to talk about how I was feeling.
One of the things that got me through those early days was the sense of community. Sure, we were all stuck in our homes, but there was a solidarity in that. Neighbours checking in on each other, people clapping for healthcare workers every evening, and the endless WhatsApp groups full of memes and encouragement. It reminded me of the best of Ireland—the resilience, the humour, and the ability to find light in the darkest of times.
Fast forward to today, and it’s hard not to reflect on how much has changed. The kids are older now—Sarah’s started school, and Adam’s become a little rugby fanatic, thanks to the Six Nations matches we’ve watched together. Jenny and I have found a new rhythm, balancing work, family, and the occasional date night (even if it’s just a takeaway and a movie on the couch). And me? Well, I’m still on my TRT journey, still managing my anxiety, and still learning to take things one day at a time.
As we approach another St. Patrick’s Day, I can’t help but think about how far we’ve come. The parades are back, the pubs are buzzing, and life feels a bit more like it used to. But there’s also a sense of gratitude for the little things—the family dinners, the walks in the park, and the simple joy of being together.
So here’s to St. Patrick’s Day 2020—a day that changed everything, but also reminded us of what really matters. Sláinte!