Simple pleasures ward off seclusion threat

In the second of a two-day series on rural Ireland, Michael Clifford reports on how community programmes are helping local people to cope with loneliness and isolation

WHEN the day in question comes around, John and Dan Murphy take off from their home in Glencar, at the foothills of the McGillicuddy Reeks. They drive the 10 miles or so into Killorglin where they meet the bus.

Aboard, there will be some old friends, and, here and there, a strange face. There might even be a few women, wives or girlfriends that come along on some of the trips. Most of the men are up around the brothers’ own age. John was 71 last August, Dan is 69. Nearly three quarters of the men are single or widowed.