Ronan Byrne enjoying life home away from home

The Cork rower had spent enough time on the erg machine in his living room long before home became a full-time training base but his idea of freedom now is a different stripe of solitude.

Philip Doyle, left, with Ronan Byrne following their victory in the Men's Double Sculls A Final at the 2019 World Rowing Championships in Linz, Austria. Photo by Andreas Pranter/Gepa Pictures/Sportsfile

Everyone saw a different light at the end of the tunnel when lockdown was eased. For some it was the chance to ramble again in a favourite wood or rediscover a beloved beach. For others it was the prospect of queuing for hours to buy furniture from IKEA or a Big Mac from the drive-thru on the edge of town.