5pm on Friday evenings fast became the most popular time of the week for
people living on a quiet residential street in a London suburb during last
Summers lockdown.
Homeworkers stopped what they were doing and ventured outside for a "Gin at
the Bin" with their neighbours.
With little or no opportunity to see friends or family, a friendly face and
a sociable drink was a welcome distraction during the pandemic.
Like many other communities across the world, people in lockdown started
reaching out to their neighbours for social interaction.
Jamie Bergin from Athlone, Co Westmeath has lived in London for many years
and moved to the Southfields area near Putney a couple of years ago.
Jamie said: "In London you never really know your neighbours, but since
lockdown Ive definitely got to know the neighbours really well.
"It all mainly started when one of the ladies across the road, Sam, started
Gin at the Bin every Friday at 5pm."
He said: "It was a lot of fun actually, it was great. I think we were out
much longer than we should have been most nights. But it was really good and
it went on for about 10 or 12 weeks every Friday. So it was definitely
something to look forward to."
Jamies neighbour Sam Heavey came up with the idea while she was bored
working from home.
She said: "I came up with the concept, Gin at the Bin, because I love gin
and also we were just really bored, missing our family and friends.
"I was looking out the window and saw everyone working from home and thought
theyre probably as bored as me, so I sent out a WhatsApp message to
everybody and they all jumped on board. And thats how we started Gin at the
Bin."
Prior to the Friday evening meet-ups on the street, Sam and Jamie really
only knew each other to say hello and one time Sam shared details for a
cleaner after Jamie called to the house.
Sam said: "We really got to know Jamie across the road because of Gin at the
Bin, I didnt really know him before. He was always very smiley and very
nice. And now actually I would say were friends, hes been over to ours for
a barbeque, weve been over to his for drinks, so how nice is that?"
Jamie also introduced his neighbours to popular Irish gins which he said
were "demolished".
"When I hosted Gin at the Bin, the Irish gin such as Gunpowder and Dingle
were an instant hit. There was a run on orange and grapefruit slices," he
laughed.
Jamie said its a bit cold for a drink on the street at the moment, but he
bumps into his neighbours in the park, walks his neighbours dog Monty and
has socially distanced chats in the park.
He wasnt able to get home for Christmas so he said it is nice to have
gotten to know the people living on his street.
"Id consider them friends now at this stage, theyve been very good. They
knew I was on my own in the area so they were very helpful for whatever I
needed and I could definitely rely on them," said Jamie.
In Dublin, film-maker Ger Walsh captured the community spirit in Pearse
House Flats last summer.
Heart-warming images of residents playing bingo, learning dance routines and
running 5km up and down the stairs in the flats to raise money for Pieta
House brought a smile to the nation during the summer months.
Local resident Sara Oglesby said the bingo had still been running until
recently but is on pause now while its cold outside.
She said its always been a tight-knit community but shes gotten to know
everyone even better now during lockdown.
Sara said: "Were able to stand outside on our balconies, have a chat, have
a cup of tea, if you need anything in the shop you can always call on your
neighbour and they will go and get it.
"The community spirit alone here is brilliant. Youll always have someone
whos there to listen to you. If you ever need anything youll never be on
your own."
And now for younger residents like Sarah, homeschooling is another topic to
bond over.
She said: "Oh its very tough at the moment, everyone is talking about it
were all calling each other asking about it. Its hard but were getting
there."
Dr Jill OMahony, lecturer in sociology at Waterford Institute of
Technology, said people thrive in face to face circumstances.
She said while our neighbours would not necessarily normally be part of our
daily lives, the pandemic has created an environment where they have become
more of a part of our daily routines.
Dr OMahony said: "Human beings are essentially social creatures. We've
always needed to connect with other human beings, because in doing so, I
suppose we helped develop an understanding of the world around us.
"But importantly we actually developed an understanding of ourselves and who
we are as well. We can't develop an identity in a vacuum. We only understand
who we are through interaction with others."
She said: "Research coming out of Australia and the UK at the moment is
showing that we're actually more likely to be in contact with our friends
and family because of the easy access to communications technology. But at
the same time, there's a deterioration in mental health, so that just shows
you that no matter how good communications technology is, there's still no
substitute for face to face contact."
But can pandemic friendships with our neighbours last?
Dr O'Mahony said: "Sure, the pandemic has opened up the space for those
relationships to kind of flourish. Absolutely. But I feel like these
relationships won't just survive because we're in a pandemic and because
you've had those conversations and because there's been one or two deep
conversations. But rather, they will survive if you find more than that in
common."
However, some people are convinced their new bonds and friendships will
survive long after the pandemic is over.
Antoinette McKinney from Poleglass in Belfast believes her connection with
her neighbour is destined to continue and has been busy making post-pandemic
plans.
She met her neighbour through a befriending programme run by Sally Gardens
Community Centre. The centre supports vulnerable people in the community and
delivers food and well-being packages.
But almost a year into the pandemic they are now relying on neighbours to
help out with keeping people connected as the service cant operate 24/7.
Antoinette said: "My neighbour is a funny person and very outgoing. Id have
seen this person before the pandemic out and about and more or less just
said 'hello, how are you but didnt really get to know the person until the
pandemic."
"I found them very funny, very entertaining and overall a good person who
would do anything for you but just fell on a bit of a hard time before
Christmas."
Now, shes looking forward to when restrictions ease and they can strengthen
their friendship even more.
She said: "Weve become really, really close. Were going to go out for a
nice meal, maybe a glass of wine or two and just sit and have a few laughs.
And just reassure each other that were never alone."
Like Antoinette, Sam is convinced that her new friendships in London will
continue to flourish as restrictions ease.
She said: "I think we will definitely continue with Gin at the Bin. In fact,
everyone's messaging me saying when can we start!
"It's a bit too cold and obviously we can't mingle just yet, but yes, we're
definitely going to continue with it. I think it's just really a special
thing.
"I read something lovely recently, and that kind of resonated with me about
community and how community is much more than belonging to something. It's
about doing something together that makes belonging matter.
"So, we're going to continue to drink gin together."
<https://www.rte.ie/author/1019960-gail-conway/> By Gail Conway
RTÉ Journalist
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