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A GROUP OF golfers have said they adhered at all times to public health guidelines, after it emerged that up to 20 of its members subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.
In a statement to RTÉ’s Liveline programme, they said a member of the group died “suddenly and unexpectedly” at the hotel they were staying in in Tullamore.
“A subsequent medical examination discovered that our dear friend had Covid but this was unrelated to her death,” the Entertainers Golf Society said.
“When we were informed, we all immediately self isolated and gave full information to the HSE about where we had visited including the name of the restaurant and pub.”
Earlier, a local GP told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne that he was surprised to see “so many people travelling as a group of golfers”.
Dr Declan Scanlon said his practice was experiencing a “significant number of calls” over the incident, but said local health services were working to be “on top of” the outbreak and would take the appropriate action.
On the same programme, Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen said all venues where the people had been in contact with others had been notified, and that it was very important that people take effort to reduce their contacts in the coming days and weeks.
“What has happened has happened… I know people can be fed up and lethargic but they have to take responsibility,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Entertainers Golf Society told Liveline that the group had been travelling to Tullamore for the last 16 years “annually for a few days of rest, relaxation and golf”.
“This year, obviously because of the restrictions involving Covid-19, we all travelled separately, maintained social distance and took all precautions as indicated by the hotel, the two golf clubs some of our group visited and the pub and restaurant that we visited as a group,” the spokesperson.
Unfortunately and tragically, one of our beloved friends died suddenly and unexpectedly at the hotel.
“A subsequent medical examination discovered that our dear friend had Covid but this was unrelated to her death. When we were informed, we all immediately self isolated and gave full information to the HSE about where we had visited including the name of the restaurant and pub.
We have been tested by the HSE and up to 20 of our group, unfortunately, tested positive for this awful illness. We want to assure Liveline listeners that we adhered at all times to the HSE guidelines on Covid-19.
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Why did they even think it was ok to go away in a big group?
@Bernie Collins: because it is okay
@Bernie Collins: The problem is everyone is obsessing with managing the explicit limits & letter of the law. Instead adhere to the spirit of what is being asked. Today in Galway city centre i witnessed patrons at prominent pubs faking adherence to the regulations by leaving pizza boxes on the outdoor tables. No wonder small country “wet” pubs are up in arms. Please cop on and do the right thing. Its 14 weeks to Christmas. We have time to get this right and make it a good Christmas. Do the right thing for yourself, your family & neighbours.
@Bernie Collins: because they are golfers. Golfers and politicians can do as they wish
From Dublin. This type of attitude becoming more prevalent in the capital. Lockdown will hopefully stop them spreading it around the country. RIP to the deceased
@Mattress Dick: Didn’t see Dublin mentioned in the article. Using the term ” Them” as if people from Dublin are a sub race if people. Grow up
Were the all in Hibernation when Clifden was in the News
Just ban golf!!
@Anne O’Hara: Golf is one of the sports that is very easy to adhere to Covid-19 restrictions. I’m sure the spread was caused by the antics after the game.
@Anne O’Hara: clown
@Kev: evidence please?
@Anne O’Hara: Or we could just ban nonsensical statements like that yours.
They were in more than the 1 pub stated in the article
Need to bring in a laws to punish those who refuse to follow the guidelines and those people anti maskers included be refused hospital care for Covid treatment.
Never Learn bet they tried out there distancing ,not The 2 meters one
So either these fellers are lying and did not social distance, wear masks etc or the health guidelines given by the hse dont work
They were FOREwarned that this could happen.
Golf and Covid don’t mix well
Shut the golf courses
@sandra clifford: gobsh!te
@sandra clifford: That’s pretty similar to saying shut the parks. Idio!t.
All this tells us is that if any twenty people were tested a majority would test positive. I assume those who were tested didn’t have any symptoms. RIP to the lady who died but I assume if that hadn’t happened we would never know if any of these people had Covid.
@Pat Duggan:They are testing 10s of thousands a week and around 1.5% are coming out positive. So no, that’s not what this is telling us. This is telling us a bunch of a***holes met up and ignored all the guidelines.
@Pat Duggan: and they’d all have gone back home and the people in Tullamore would be left wondering where it all came from.
Said they obeyed the rules. I believe them. Obviously rules not strict enough.
@Máirtín Ó Conghaile: something’s not adding up here. 3 pubs in town have been approached by An Garda related to this society’s visit
Rules of Golf 19th Hole: 1 pint = 2m, 2pints = 1m, 3 pints = 0m
what a bunch of upstarts with there big wallets they have no respect for the people or there familes.
I was away in galway for a number of days on a, staycation. Seen golfing groups eating in large number’s and then moving to the empty lounge and having a few more drinks. Same large group the following morning waiting in the foyer for their transport to the golf course. Similarly leaving cert students celebrating their results staying 4 to a room hardly all sister or all brothers then ordering in pizzas at 3am and rooms packed. Hotel management take no interest or responsibility for any of the behaviour from what I can see
Entertainment industry constantly telling us they are in a financial crisis and government needs to inject a large sum of money to save them. Obviously they are not all feeling the pinch.
@Jh2019: muppet
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