A DEDICATED Garda has been pictured providing essential assistance to an elderly couple during the coronavirus lockdown.
In yet another example of the incredible community spirit being fostered by Ireland’s frontline workers during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Garda Paudie Maher of Mayorstone lent his services to a couple whose central heating had stopped working.
With all of Ireland currently under lockdown and anyone over the age of 70 or experiencing a pre-existing health condition advised to stay indoors, Gardai have been playing an essential role in helping the nation’s vulnerable through these uncertain times.
In this instance, Garda Maher was called on to help a couple stay warm during the pandemic and appeared only too happy to lend his services to what is essential community work.
Garda Paudie Maher of Mayorstone #CommunityPolicing helping to get the heating back working in an elderly couples home today.
We are #HereToHelp #COVID19 #WashYourHands #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe pic.twitter.com/pODeIlHqVW— Garda Info (@gardainfo) March 29, 2020
Paudie Maher, or Pádraic Maher needs little introduction to hurling fans.
Already something of a legend with Tipperary Senior Championship club Thurles Sarsfields, he’s also a star at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team.
But he’s always strived to do more.
Since graduating from the Garda Síochána College in Templemore in the late 2010s, Maher has split his time between hurling and work as a community guard and wouldn’t change it for the world.
He previously explained to Balls.ie: "In this whole situation [of playing elite-level hurling] you’d be living in kind of a bubble where you think nothing is going to harm you.”
"You think you’re up on a pedestal and everyone is different. But then you go out and you see real life experience like that; it hits home because you want to be enjoying this and getting the most out of it while you can because you think losing an All-Ireland final is the worst thing of all time but there’s people who are feeling 10 times worse than what you’re feeling after a game like that.
Paudie Maher can do everything, snap ball, score points, protect us all and now he’s a handy man too....but what I want to know is...where did he get that fresh fade 💇♂️😇...#superPaudie https://t.co/QSRgbspkNJ
— Shane McGrath (@Shaneytweet) March 29, 2020
"It kind of just brings you into the real world more; seeing what you’re dealing with, what families go through, what people go through in their lives. You’re just saying to yourself, I’ve no worries really. Once you have your health, you should be able to enjoy life.”
