"Everyone is talking about wages and money and that's important, but mental health also took a huge hit." Fiach O'Connor is reflecting on the past 18 months when, as a professional musician he was largely unable to work.
He says that playing music, whether in an original band, a covers band or playing pub gigs is a "form of expression" and that during the pandemic artists saw that outlet completely taken away, with people losing both their livelihoods and the activity that brought them joy.
There was good news for musicians like Fiach this evening with the confirmation that music can now be played at weddings and in venues like pubs, while what was termed the "legal restriction on dancing" has been removed.