For those who are cocooning, 5 May was the first time in six weeks that they were allowed to get out and about for some fresh air, according to public health advice.
People who are cocooning are often referred to as the over 70s, but there is a large cohort of people who have to cocoon due to underlying health concerns.
Roisin Dermody is a disability rights advocate who is living in Dublin with her guide dog Clipper. She said that before cocooning guidelines were announced, she was finding social distancing a challenge. "People were yelling at me for not staying two metres away, but I'm blind," she said. "I can't see where you are, you need to take some responsibility, because if i'm not obeying social distancing then neither are you," she