Irish spirit sales are near top of the world, there’s a global pandemic and a version of martial law in parts of western Europe. It’s like the early 1920s all over.

The sacrifices being asked of us may feel difficult, but that’s exacerbated by the fact that we’ve enjoyed immense freedom compared to previous generations.

Perhaps we became too complacent. Pandemics happen in movies. Surely it would never happen in a society with travel so readily available, would it?

While this time is difficult for a public that has enjoyed unprecedented freedom, it’s worth recalling that our grandparents lived through the economic war of 1932 to 1938, which happened in the midst of the Great Depression.

The sacrifices being asked of us may feel difficult, but that’s exacerbated by the fact that we’ve enjoyed immense freedom compared to previous generations

This was followed closely by the outbreak of the Second World War, which ushered in over a decade of rationing in this country.

We have the benefit of technology. But not everyone has that advantage. There are those who don’t know how to use it or can’t afford it. Phone signal isn’t available everywhere either, never mind broadband.

In some ways, our world has gotten smaller again. Food has jumped up the priority ladder.

I noticed last week that vegetable seed sold out in the local co-op. We’ll be swamped with lettuce by May. The news of McDonald’s closing its restaurants was to be expected, but nonetheless will jolt the beef sector.

We have the benefit of technology. But not everyone has that advantage

No mates, no masses and no matches will prove a challenge too, albeit a necessary one.

There’s going to be a new appreciation for the work teachers and those who volunteer to coach sport do after all this. Some parents will be discovering that the teacher or the sports coach wasn’t necessarily the problem they imagined.

Equally, how we do business will change. It will be interesting to see how people get on working from home and whether businesses will review their need for office premises.

From a farmer’s perspective, social distancing is a spring perennial

The satellite images of the reduction in air pollution in China and Italy were interesting, to say the least.

From a farmer’s perspective, social distancing is a spring perennial. I’ve noticed I’m in less of a rush getting work done. For the short term, there’s no longer an obligation to be here, there and everywhere.

Welcome weather

A break in the weather was welcome after a torrid spring. It led to the first bunch of calved cows getting out and sheds getting cleaned. This lessened the work load in a big way. The use of polled sires is helping too, in that regard. With the 50% calved mark in sight, less than half the calves on the ground have had buds.

Because of the wet weather and resulting soft ground conditions, there are still only half of the maiden heifers at grass.

That will change over the coming week, as we hope to get them to the out-farm earlier than usual. The day-to-day farm work and the sight of calves tearing around the field at dusk is a good distraction from the goings on in the world.

The morning shows on local radio are doing their bit to offer a distraction too. Depending on what building in the yard I’m in, the voices of Patricia Messenger from C103 or Jerry O’Sullivan from Radio Kerry offer a sense of reassurance in a time when a simple WhatsApp message can drive hysteria.

Video didn’t kill the radio star after all.