Be kind – especially when it’s local

It all started with a TripAdvisor review – a bad review by a customer; the owner replied and that is where it should have ended.

Everyone is entitled to express a genuine grievance. This was between the two parties and was no business of everyone else.

But it seems that the latest trending #bekind was quickly forgotten and all the little trolls came out in force, feeling a right to voice their hateful spite.

People with an anonymous profile, having never even been in the premises in question posted extremely personal things towards family members etc. That is not okay.

We are talking here about Blair’s Inn in my community. You might not like the pub or food and that is okay (no-one can please everyone) but it is not okay to abuse the people behind the business.

The Blairs had a tough week after the review – it is never easy to read personal attacks on you and/or your family. I wasn’t aware of the trolling that went on but one local powerhouse woman was and took action.

Blarney woman Kate Durrant (Most Inspirational Person in Ireland Awardee) called on the community to support this business that has for over two generations given employment in the area, supported local food and drink producers (ensuring the money made returned to the community) and has helped many charity efforts by hosting coffee mornings etc.

Kate called and the community came. People who have eaten in the bar left positive reviews and messages of support but that was not all.

On a cold and wet Wednesday evening, almost 40 people from the local community came, ate, drank and laughed in front of the cosy open fire in Blair’s Inn.

Jessie, long serving staff member, had her work cut out having to deal almost on her own with us, but she did it with a smile and a cheeky joke here and there.

I met people I haven’t seen in a while like local photographer Iga Sasiela of Blue Door Studio Photography, Deirdre O’Hourihan Healy of Tower Auto Centre, Adrian O’Connell of O’Connell’s Crash Repairs and Jacqui O’Connor of Muskerry Arms – who was supporting a rival local business.

This is what community is all about – coming out to support when someone is in trouble. #bekind should not just be a trending hashtag but a day to day habit.

Do these trolls really not know what damage they can do to a local family business? Blair’s Inn supports three families (parents and two brothers with their families), local people who work at the bar for many years and of course there’s a knock-on effect for their local suppliers who rely on orders from the pub.

If one brick of this construction falls, everything else comes down on top of it.

Duncan and Richard Blair have already thanked the community for their support but here is a huge thank you to all who are indeed kind and won’t stand for anything else.

It warmed my heart to see how people – some didn’t even know each other – came together with a common goal of support for a local business in trouble.

Let’s be kind my lovelies – it is so much easier and healthier.