Dealing with PED.

by Ben Cunningham 

So it’s over… No more wintery walks to Snoozles or craic-filled coffee breaks. The 2017 Connaught Ulster Regional Session of EYP Ireland has concluded.  

Arriving in Galway on Friday, everyone was excited, nervous and unaware of the weekend to come… The following days consisted of terrific team-building, captivating committee work the finally a great General Assembly.

(Rumour has it there was also even a disco in there somewhere too!!) Come Sunday evening everyone was sad, tired, and full of red bull. But hey at least you probably made a friend from some other county (The benefits of attending such a multicultural event!). 

I hope that wasn’t the only thing you gained from the session but even if it was, I’d label it a successful weekend.

But almost immediately after the session, everyone seems to have contracted an illness that scientists and doctors from around the country are calling PED (Post EYP Depression). 

This phenomenon plagues every delegate and official, whether it be after closing ceremony, on the way home or maybe even after getting up for school Monday morning. 

The symptoms include (but are not limited to): 

• A constant urge to do an energiser
• A longing for 2 slices of pizza (Just 2, not 1 or 3). 
• Some delegates have even reported reoccurring nightmares in which, much like the session, everyone they meet is from Cavan. 

But there is an antidote for this ailment. The solution this sickness comes in many forms, a leading doctor claims that simply just reading the articles on the session website can put any delegate on the road to recovery, while he ‘World Health Organisation’ suggests looking through the session photographs will cure anyone with a bad case of the blues.

Personally I find that the best way of dealing with PED is feeling superior to your non-EYP friends because you spent the weekend debating the impact of technology on Farmers and the Importance of Borders, where as they did not.

Although it varies from Patient to Patient, PED usually lasts about a week. Just remember, PED will disappear but the memories of the session will last forever!!

‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened’- Dr. Seuss