Time to live a little again

Gemma Good is getting to grips with her new-found social life in this week's Good Life column...

With the return to college last Monday, the easing of Covid restrictions was timely for UL students. Many of my friends who had previously been online for the most part are now back at in-person lectures; social distancing is not required and, of course, there is no longer the need to be gone out of bars and restaurants by 8pm. I would say just about everyone in the country is happy to see the back of the early closing time, even those who aren’t into crazy nights out. It was brilliant to see everybody again, to catch up and just get back to some sort of normality.

The highlight of the week for me was definitely being able to go out, and I could nearly speak for all the students in Limerick when I say that. The city was absolutely wedged with a great atmosphere all week. Myself and a few others on my course decided to join the chaos on Monday night. I suppose, due to the pandemic, you could call us rookies to the whole going out scene, so finally being able to experience a proper night out was amazing.

Getting ready and having a few drinks at the house, time nearly ran away with us before we even made it near a nightclub. Come 9pm, we decided to order a taxi on Free Now into the city. The taxi driver was just lovely. Making idle chit chat on the way in, he warned us of how busy it was and hinted that we may not get in anywhere. A hint that we decided not to take. Feeling the effects of our pre-drinks, one of my friends asked for a bottle of water. The absolute gent he was, Brian (the taxi man) reached his hand up and gave her back a full bottle of Ballygowan, sealed and everything. Some people simply do their job and some go above and beyond.

We ploughed on anyway, paid Brian and stepped out of the taxi. Well if you can imagine four newly born calves being flung into the ring at a mart, that was us. Slightly wobbly, wild eyes not knowing where to look first. Our herd instinct led us to a queue - which was as long as the distance from Cavan’s market square up to AIB. Not a hope of us getting in realistically but the bouncers told us we might get in later. After an hour or so, Abbey, who was well sobered up by now and fed up, decided enough was enough. She hopped into a taxi and away home, promising to text once she arrived safely. About half an hour later, we received a lengthy voice note from her crying with fear.

Once she reached home, Abbey realised she didn’t have enough in her Revolut to pay for the taxi. She explained this and asked if she could run inside to get money and come back out and pay, thinking there would be no problem. The taxi driver went insane, shouting at her saying that he was fed up with students not paying their fare, raging at her request when it was so busy. Abbey, who was shaking at this point, tried to open the door to get out but found that it was locked. Panic stricken, she burst into tears, not knowing what to do. Pleading that she was not trying to fob him off, the taxi driver eventually let her out to get the money.

Abbey took note of the taxi driver’s name, which was displayed on the windscreen. She thought about reporting him but is afraid that if she does, the driver will remember who she is and target her. I had never even thought of that, but maybe that is the way we need to be thinking now. I personally have no problem getting a taxi on my own, I live in a different area to most people on my course so I’ve often had to get one alone.

In fact, I left shortly after Abbey that night, thoroughly fed up and freezing cold. I know it’s risky and I have heard stories about taxi experiences that would give you shivers. The thing is, I’d say every student in Ireland has found themselves in a situation where they’ve had to get a taxi alone. Is this something that we have to fear and avoid doing? If it has to be done, myself and my friends would always video call, talk on the phone, or just text when you arrive home safely. We never really considered what to do if the latter didn’t happen.

I try not to think about the 'what ifs' too often. Maybe that’s irresponsible of me, but I think if I lived like that I’d never leave the house. I suppose everyone thinks these things aren’t going to happen to them, or they used to think this way anyway. I was in the city on Friday morning, I had to go to Brown Thomas to get coffee pods for my mam’s new NEspresso machine. I got the early bus in, then realised that the shop didn’t open until 10am. I strolled down to Arthur’s Quay to get some steps in along the Shannon. The remnants of Ashling’s mural lay beside the river.

I was momentarily paralysed as I took in the scene; Ashling’s photo, a unicorn teddy bear, weather beaten flowers and most poignantly, an illustration of a women smiling with the word “WHY!’’ beside it. I think that is the scariest part, nobody knows why so how can we avoid this happening again? I think it is important that Ashling does not become the tragedy that happened to her. We must not forget that she lived a beautiful life in those short 23 years. With Covid restrictions lifted, I think it’s time we all started living again.

* Gemma Good is from Killeshandra and a second year journalism student in University of Limerick.