Mary Kenny
I have friends who are on holiday in Italy at the moment, and they are having a wonderful time. Access to the historic monuments is spaced and well-arranged. Pompeii is as awesome as ever and Naples as full of life and charm as it always was. The lakes are fabulous (even if the Med is inclined to be polluted). The Italians, as ever, are the most charming and warm-hearted people, and this being August, the Marian feasts are beautifully observed.
Italy is on a ‘green’ list of countries to visit – that is to say, it is deemed to be safe from disproportionate risks of Covid-19 contagion – or as safe as anything in life can reasonably be expected to be. Italy is also at the heart and centre of our civilisation.
Therefore, my sympathies are inclined towards Michael Cawley, Chairman of Failte Ireland, who has been named and shamed – and effectively made to resign – because he went on a pre-booked family holiday to Italy.
An individual in charge of a country’s tourism does need to go to other countries to research how they manage their tourism”
It is not illegal to travel to Italy, and the Department of Foreign Affair’s advice not to do so unless ‘essential’ is not backed by the force of law. It is simply advice.
I would say there is quite a strong argument that a man with a very responsible job might justifiably consider a holiday ‘essential’ for himself and his family. Moreover, an individual in charge of a country’s tourism does need to go to other countries to research how they manage their tourism. It is part of his job.
Mr Cawley chose to fall on his sword when he got the call from the Minister for Tourism, Catherine Martin, telling him she was “disappointed”, the way teachers used to tell some of us they were “disappointed” with our behaviour this term. Wag finger!
Independence
Independent TD Michael McNamara showed an ability to think independently by suggesting that Ireland was entering a “period of hysteria” by anathemising Michael Cawley.
Yes, some people will think that Mr Cawley showed poor judgement in going abroad at this time; and many individuals who are themselves subject to restrictions resent others who seem to avail of, or take, more liberties. Opinions will differ.
Yet I feel that some people will only be satisfied when Ireland shuts off all contact with the outside world, like 17th Century Japan. The very opposite principle, incidentally, of the sense of universality that has always been part of the Catholic Church’s values.
***
Joe Biden [pictured], the Democratic candidate to be the next President of the US, is 77 years old, but as Financial Times commentator Janan Ganesh quipped in smart-aleck mode: “Biden is not 77 the way Mick Jagger is 77.”
Indeed not. Mr Biden’s age is a concern to his supporters because he sometimes seems rather forgetful and absent-minded. (I can relate! I seem to misplace my reading glasses several times a day – thankfully, I’m not running for office.)
Mr Biden’s cognitive condition means that effectively, people expect the real Presidential power to be transferred to his running-mate, Kamala Harris. And one of the first organisations to congratulate Ms Harris was Planned Parenthood, the American abortion providers, who announced that they were ‘thrilled’ at Kamala Harris’s nomination, and very pleased that she was pledged to ensure greater access to abortion when she gets to the White House.
Just so we know where she stands.
Glad I don’t have to keep this house in order
The Bible warns us against covetousness, and unfortunately, reading all about Harry and Meghan’s new home in Santa Barbara, California puts me in serious danger of this transgression against the Ten Commandments.
Why can’t I have a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom house costing $14.65m in beautiful Montecito, with a pool, tennis court, teahouse, children’s cottage, library, office, spa, sauna, gym, theatre, wine cellar and peerless rose gardens?
Poring over the details of the estate constitutes, surely, what Maeve Binchy used to call “property porn”.
Then I remind myself that there is always a serpent in Eden, and with the lure of fabulous dwellings comes the accompanying responsibilities. Imagine having to clean 16 bathrooms – or even employing someone to do so! Imagine having to invest so much time and energy in taking care of such a mansion and its estate.
And imagine the $6.5m mortgage repayments annually! Not to mention the ferocious inspections by the US tax man – the famously zealous IRS who extracts every cent possible?
And so my covetousness is more usually dampened down by considering the worries and responsibilities that go with acquisitions, rather than the promptings of virtue.