St Patrick’s Day came and went again, still unmarked by any event except for a few protests that caused minor ripples in the big smoke. It is hard on people to stay locked down. The interviews aired on the media did portray a certain level of frustration.

While not agreeing with them; I think we can understand these feelings.

Some people are better able to cope that others. We have our fields and the beauty of nature all around us to help us through. It was a beautiful warm day and people were able to get out and about for walks.

I fed the calves and noticed so much bird song. A robin perched on the gate watched me cautiously. It has probably been there all the time but I was too busy rushing around to notice.

No punters travelled to Cheltenham and the racing continued behind closed doors.

The St Patrick’s Day trips are often scoffed at as jaunts for politicians

Micheál Martin exchanged the traditional bowl of shamrock with Joe Biden in America. There was a real bowl with growing shamrock in it but the meeting remained virtual. Yet, “there was real warmth between the two men” reported Brian O’Donovan from the White House that was awash with green light for St Patrick’s Day. Both men leaned into the bowl of shamrock and somehow made the connection between the two countries work.

The St Patrick’s Day trips are often scoffed at as jaunts for politicians. Nevertheless, meetings and connections that could have been held were no longer possible. There will be fall out from lack of real connection with people. I find that I’m less connected with my friends. I haven’t seen Breda and Eileen, my two walking partners in months. Consequently, I know less about their lives and families. The trivia is often the oil of friendships. I know we will pick up where we left off.

Daffodil beauty

Later in the day, I took a ride with my husband Tim down the fields while he was checking fences for the cows. We picked some daffodils in what we call “the daffodil plot”. It backs onto the wood and the different colours and varieties are amazing some of them being a hundred years old. Daffodils are so robust and herald spring and hope like no other flower.

Last week, Tim and I delivered more heifers to the heifer rearer Billy O’Shea in Kildare.

It was a purely working trip yet still nice to drive on open road

It was also an opportunity to see last year’s heifers and discuss the breeding programme for them. It was a purely working trip yet still nice to drive on open road. This year we’ve sent the calves at the earlier age of five and six weeks.

Our sons Colm and Philip dehorned them two weeks before travelling. It proved a non-event for them as the buds of the horns were smaller

Consequently, there will be no need to have calves grazing in front of the cows. It is a bit of a headache to manage and we want to keep the grass for the cows. Forty calves are already installed in Kildare. Our sons Colm and Philip dehorned them two weeks before travelling. It proved a non-event for them as the buds of the horns were smaller. They bounced out for their feed afterwards and carried on as normal. We give them painkiller so that the stress is reduced. My grandson, Ricky’s big tub of Sudocrem was stolen for the heifers’ heads. It prevents any infection after the event.

There are risks with every vaccine and the good news is that the review has been positive

I remember making the trip last year with the heifers. Little did we think that the whole farming year would roll around again and that we’d find ourselves in the same position. The fear has reduced and people are being very good looking towards vaccination. We are hopeful that our other son, Diarmuid, will receive his soon. The AstraZeneca delay has been unfortunate. There are risks with every vaccine and the good news is that the review has been positive.

A special song

Ryan Tubridy hosted a Late Late Show special pitched towards the diaspora for St Patrick’s Day. The musical introduction with people playing various instruments all over the world was beautiful and one couldn’t deny the far reaching influence of our little country.

George Murphy belted out some of the earlier Dubliner songs

I had been watching for The Rising Sons – Luke Kelly Tribute on TG4 for what would have been Luke’s 80th birthday. Though late, I waited up and wasn’t disappointed. The fine voice of George Murphy belted out some of the earlier Dubliner songs ending with his own new ballad called Dublin Inspires. It’s a fine song with gorgeous footage of Dublin. Check it out on George Murphy’s Facebook page. It will be my memory of St Patrick’s Day 2021.