How are you coping in Trim?

COUNCILLOR NOEL FRENCH

I think we’re doing OK. We’re managing very well at present. The vast majority of people are obeying the rules, staying at home and social distancing. I think that elderly people are doing quite well as well. I gather from voluntary groups that that there isn’t a lot of people requiring stuff (groceries and fuel etc) – many people are being well looked after by families and friends. It is all a challenge for society and a challenge for us as individuals. I keep saying that we are a strong people and that we will get through this. I don’t work as five-day week. When you’re a councillor it’s 24/7. Some days I turn off from social media because it becomes a bit much but I’, always accessible by phone or email.

Trim Castle is devoid of any visitors during the crisis.

AUDREY MC GUINNESS, TRIM GAA

Two of us are looking after things locally. Kenny Morgan is our main co-ordinator. I have been taking calls from people for help for their needs and we have about 20 volunteers operating each day. We took on the Meals on Wheels, doing the cooking and we have 45 people ready to do the deliveries. There are lots of people willing to do it. We’re also liaising with the smaller shops for some of the needs.

URSULA WINTERS, TRIM TRADERS

I can’t speak for other people but I closed my own shop Nook Home on 15^th March for the safety of my staff and customers and ourselves. I jut felt uneasy and felt I couldn’t continue to open the doors. I had just got in brand new stock – that’s the reality for a lot of small businesses now. You can just imagine what Mother’s Day was like for a lot of businesses. It’s even worse for businesses that don’t have an online presence, they have nothing. If you are online, on Instagram or Facebook at least you can help to keep customers engaged. You can generate some income. Small businesses have the burden of rates, insurance, staff wages, taxes and many of the businesses work from week to week. And of course we’re not forgetting all our cafes, hotels, bars, and restaurants in Trim. These are very tough times for all these business and all our staff waiting at home not knowing when they will return to work. We have about 100 members and we try to update them with information. Mairead Gogan of the Chamber is a great help with administering the group. The voluntary group we have formed among the traders are ready to help in any way we can during this awful time and we look forward to opening the doors of our businesses and welcoming back our friends, customers and tourists to Trim.

Jacinta Jones of Meath Food Bank.

ROBBIE CONNELL, TRIM CELTIC AFC

We have 500 members and we put out an offer to traders and others to help out in any way we can. Donie Quinn taxies has offered us help with deliveries or lifts, or anything lse we want. We only had 1-2 people asking for stuff to be dropped off. We haven’t been inundated. I know the Red Cross are doing great work. Personally, I’m out of  work. I’ve been with Dublin Fire Brigade for 23 years and TaraMines before that. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer last November. I don’t mind talking about it, no. I had surgery in January so I’m self isolating now. My wife Aislin g and myself have six childen and three grandchildren.

PAT LYNCH, LYNCH’S PUB

These are strange times indeed for us all and for those of us steeped in the pub trade these are also worrying times. Lynch’s Pub first opened its doors when Thomas and his wife Rose, my mother and father, bought the current premises from Julia Darby who had run the pub for many years previously. When my parents took over the shop on Emmet Street it served as many things to the community, including as a grocery, hardware and, of course, the Motor Bar. Sadly my father died as a young man in 1945 and my elder brother Michael stepped up to run the business along with my mother. My mother also died when we were very young in 1954 and Michael ran the place until he was forced to close the doors in 1997 following ill-health.  Michael also passed away in 2004 but within a few short years my sons Fergal and Robert reopened the pub and maintained a proud tradition that stretched back over 90 years. Robert still runs the pub and proudly flies the Lynch name over the door while Fergal works full-time with the Meath Chonicle. 

However, like everyone else in the country, my family have been impacted by this coronavirus. The day when it became evident that the only course of action we could take to help prevent the spread of this horrible virus led to our most difficult call – we had to close for the health and safety of our customers, our staff and our families. We, like many of the pubs in the town, made the call to close before we were instructed to do so by the Government. We all recognised the threat and were quickly aware of the only appropriate action. Huge sacrifices had to be made and the toughest of all was letting our wonderful barmen go, albeit temporarily. They will be back and Lynch’s presence on Emmet Street will be maintained. We are blessed to have the finest customers, the most expert staff and a friendly, comfortable and warm environment that is more than “just a pub”. 

We are a refuge from the troubles of the outside world and we appreciate that when all this madness is over we will be needed more than ever and we won’t be found wanting for our community. Now into the third generation of Lynchs to run the Motor Bar, we are hoping to bounce back when this pandemic reaches its conclusion, or is at least contained. Robert has three sons of his own so the line of Lynchs is strong and hopefully one or maybe all will take on the mantle of maintaining a fine tradition in the town of Trim and keep the Motor Bar ticking over for the wonderful people of our proud town.

The Harvest Home Bakery in Trim is closed for the time being.

REV PAUL BOGLE, RECTOR, TRIM ATHBOY UNION OF PARISHES

At the moment, obviously, there are no church services so in terms of keeping the show on the road by keeping in touch with people by phone and email. I’m not around people’s homes because people are isolated or cocooned. People seem to be getting help and there is some great work going on in the community. I have 150 families spread over a pretty wide area. It’s a struggle but anything we have done before this must be done now in a different way. I can’t go door to door but I will answer a call in an emergency. Obviously, I can’t go into nursing homes to meet parishoners but I keep in touch with them through their families. I’m 63 and staying put in the house because we have an elderly relative who is vulnerable living with us but we have an online service. The technology has certainly helped in this situation. Our website is trimandathboy.com and we put up a weekly reflection.

The streets of Trim are quiet at present.