Walk in the park with Daisy
By Mary Dennehy
GARDAI from Tallaght accompanied a mother and her young daughter on a walk through Bushy Park last weekend to assist them with social distancing, and to help raise awareness of the reserved times in Dublin parks for people cocooning.
Last week, Templeogue mother Lynn McDonald made the decision to bring her daughter Daisy (7), who has Rett syndrome, to their local park after nearly three months at home.
Daisy with her mother Lynn Garda Rossa Smith from the dog unit with Dutch the cocker spaniel, Garda Stephen Butler, Garda Derek O’Brien and Sgt Emer Lamon
Following the introduction of new Government guidelines, Dublin’s four local authorities came together to create a designated time for cocooners who wish to exercise in their local parks.
From Wednesday, May 6, the two hour period between 1.30pm and 3.30pm was reserved in all parks across Dublin city and county for people who are cocooning.
This includes people over 70 and those medically vulnerable.
Last week, Lynn and Daisy headed to Bushy Park, which is owned by Dublin City Council, during the dedicated time for cocooners.
“It took me about 48 hours to make the decision that we would go to the park last Wednesday, it was very daunting after 11 weeks indoors”, Lynn told The Echo.
“The whole way down the road to Bushy Park, people were observing social distancing.
“However, we only got about seven foot into the park and we had to turn around.
“There were joggers, bikes, people having picnics… you would not have been able to walk the park safely.
“There is no way I could go out on my own with Daisy again, it’s not possible.”
She added: “There needs to be more awareness, more education about the two hours for people cocooning.
“There needs to be signs at the entrance.
Daisy enjoying the walk with her mother Lynn (Images by Aidan Finlay) Little Blue Heroes
“Park users need to be notified at the entrance and they can make their own decision after that.
“It’s like it’s being left to the people fighting for an hour or two in the park to educate people.”
After returning home from the park distraught, Lynn shared her experience on social media, a post which generated national attention – including coverage on Joe Duffy’s Liveline.
It also caught the attention of the community policing unit at Tallaght Garda Station, which supports the family through the Little Blue Hero programme.
Last Saturday, a number of community police officers and the Garda dog unit accompanied Lynn and Daisy on a walk.
Tallaght District community police sergeant Emer Lamon told The Echo: “[We] walked with Daisy and her mum Lynn around Bushy Park to assist them with social distancing.
“The park was very full and we were accompanied by a representative from [Dublin City Council] parks department.
“Gardai spoke with people in the park and asked them if they were aware that the parks were allocated for use by vulnerable people from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
“Most people were not aware and were extremely apologetic and left the park.”
Sgt Lamon added: “People were genuinely not aware, they genuinely didn’t know.
“We were not there to judge but to raise awareness and encourage people to respect the times [reserved for those cocooning].”
Lynn has expressed her thanks to the team at Tallaght Garda Station.
“We are extremely grateful to [the community police] for giving us their time on Saturday, Daisy is still in great form”, Lynn said.
“Daisy had the opportunity on Saturday to feed the ducks and look at the leaves on the trees that had come out since she was last in the park.”
Lynn believes that there is a lack of awareness among park users and that Dublin’s four local authorities are responsible for promoting the times they have dedicated to cocooners.
A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council told The Echo that signage is on order for its parks and will be put up as soon as received.
“In the interim, a publicity campaign on social media has proven very successful on disseminating the request to please avoid parks from 1.30 to 3.30pm unless you are in the category of people most vulnerable to Covid 19”, the spokesperson added.
When contacted by The Echo, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council confirmed that signs are now in place in Bushy Park.
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