Maria's return home to Mayo has been longer than planned
By Stuart Tynan
IT seemed like an innocent return home at the time.
Maria Walsh, a native of Breaffy, returned home on March 10 for the first time she left for Australia in October 2018, where she had been working in Sydney as a nurse, to attend a family wedding.
But the day before the celebrations, the news broke that the government had announced details of restrictions across Ireland to combat the Covid-19 pandemic which was beginning to sweep the country and planet.
It would be much longer stay than she had anticipated.
“Originally, I came home for my cousins’ wedding. Thankfully, the wedding went ahead with some restrictions before the lockdown fully commenced.
"I had planned to go back two weeks later so it's turned out to be a much longer ‘holiday’ than planned!” she told The Connaught Telegraph.
It may have been a much shorter stay than she originally planned, as she attempted to return to Australia ahead of schedule to go back to her job.
The Australian government’s decision to close their borders scuppered any chance of her doing so but in hindsight, it has proven a blessing in disguise.
“At first, I tried to get back to Australia sooner by changing my flights as I really did not think it would become as serious as it has turned out to be.
“I was unable to board my changed flight because unfortunately the Australian government decided to close their borders to non-residents. But as the pandemic has progressed and has become as serious as it has done, I am glad I am at home now within close travelling distance of my family.”
Soon, Maria’s attention turned to two of her close friends who, because of boarders being closed, were now marooned in Australia, and feared they could not return home.
But despite an ‘extremely stressful’ period of uncertainty for all involved, they were able to come home and be with their families.
“Yes, I had two friends who became unable to return home due to airline companies ceasing and various countries closing their borders.
“It was extremely stressful and upsetting for them both as they feared they would not be able to return home to their families but thankfully with the help of the Department of Foreign Affairs, they both got flights home.”
With no possible way of returning to her life in Sydney for the foreseeable future, she is now on the frontlines, along with many other brave men and women in our health service, working as a general nurse in the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, County Offaly.
“I trained in Athlone Institute of Technology and worked in the Midlands Regional Hospital prior to travelling. I really enjoyed my time there before travelling and was delighted to get the opportunity to work again with my former colleagues through these testing times.”
Naturally, her family have their worries about her going into a high-risk environment. But as far as Maria is concerned, it is simply ‘part of the job’.
“Yeah, my mam and dad naturally worry somewhat about it, but they understand it is just the way it is for the time being. I do not mind. It is just become part of the job. Everybody has had to adapt in some way to this new way of life.”
How this pandemic develops going forward over the summer and beyond remains to be seen.
Maria is happy to be home and playing her part on the frontlines, but she has not ruled out a return Down Under somewhere down the line.
“Australia was amazing and I do feel my time was not up over there when this all began to happen.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to travel around Australia and some neighbouring countries while I was away there. I was a member of Clan na Gael GAC in Sydney where I made loads of friends, got to keep playing and watching GAA while being away from home. The club really became a home away from home and I do miss them all!
”But I am glad to be home and near my family during this pandemic. I will not rule anything out yet but for now just take it day by day and see what happens when we all get the other side of this tough time.”