TV host Graham Norton has told how he feared “piles of bodies on the streets” during Covid as he returned home to unveil a memorial to those who died during the pandemic.
The chat show star unveiled the special plaque on a bridge over the River Bandon in the West Cork town.
The monument aims to commemorate all those who died during the height of the crisis.
According to the World Health Organization, some 6.9 million people lost their lives from 2020 to 2023 worldwide due to the virus.
Graham, 60, told the Irish Sun: “Covid made the world very small. Everything stopped and the elderly weren’t quite the same as they were at the beginning by the end of it.
“It was a terrifying time. I remember when I was in London at the beginning of it wondering were there going to be piles of bodies on the streets. You just did not know so it was a very scary time.
“It is being commemorated here in such a lovely way. It’s not a depressing event, it’s lovely.”
He said he was delighted to unveil the riverside monument Light To Dark – Womb to Light – Every Spring Rebirths, because firstly it was in Bandon and because his mother Rhoda Walker uses the day care centre at the Allin Institute outside which it has been installed.
The large plaque – believed to be the first of its kind to mark Covid – is made from Kilkenny stone and it features clay tiles that were created by participants, both elders and students depicting daily events, habits and people who got the elderly through the pandemic safely.
The Bandon native said: “They have been very good to her (his mum).
“I totally understand why it’s probably the first because we are all so anxious to put Covid behind us and forget about it.
“But equally it’s very important to remember what we went through and what people sacrificed and those who were lost.
“It’s a beautiful thing to have it here. People were just looking for some sort of normality.
“Its great that here we are on a beautiful sunny day where all these people can gather and not be scared.”
Graham described Covid as one of the most terrifying experiences because it was so unprecedented.
He added: “I suppose one of the perks of growing older and there are a few is that places, events and people can spark memories.
“That was one of the most terrifying things about Covid because it didn’t remind us of anything. We had nothing to call on.
“There was nothing to anchor us in that experience and it was terrifying heading into it not knowing how, when, or if it would end.
“Of course we must remember. Particularly young people and older people were disproportionately affected.
“Young people lost out on learning social skills and enjoying all the world had to offer. Older people were left feeling lonely and isolated.
“So it is terrific that Covid is being demoralised today with this beautiful artwork.
“It is in memory of what we all went through, what we sacrificed and the people and things we lost.”
Asked if his mother would be very happy with him unveiling the memorial he laughed as he said: “She will – eventually.”
The chat show host also said he is enjoying married life, with plans to relax in his West Cork home over the summer period.
He will also not be driving the roads from Ahakista, near Bantry, to radio studios in Bandon every Saturday and Sunday to do The Graham Norton Radio Show on Virgin with Maria McErlane.
He had been broadcasting since 2021 and he quit that gig last February.
He said: “I will have a nice free summer this year as I will not be commuting to the radio studio in Bandon either.
“The last few summers I would be driving up (to Bandon) every Saturday and Sunday to do it here on the quays.
“I left there in February so this is the first summer in a while that I get a lie in at weekends.”
He said he has “just finished a novel, so this is proper holiday time now”.
He revealed the novel will come out in Ireland the beginning of September and it’s called Frankie.
He said: “It starts in West Cork but oh this one flies, it goes all over the place.”
He laughed when he was told he, Cillian Murphy and Roy Keane were listed as the best Cork men.
He said about Cillian and his success: “He has always been a fantastic actor. Always has been and it’s kind of weird that this one film has catapulted him into this other sphere.
“He has been brilliant for years and has played big parts in big movies so I don’t know why this was the one that caught everyone’s attention.”
Asked how he thought Ryan Tubridy is coping with the move from Irish television and radio to London, he said: “I’m sure very well. He’s at Virgin where I was at and it’s a very nice place to work so I’m sure he is having a nice time there.”
