Tag Archives: pubs opening

WHILE some Covid-19 restrictions are about to be lifted, Ennis publican Darragh McAllister feels it could be a little while yet before pubs are back. “We’re looking forward to Thursday to see what will be said,” Mr McAllister told The Champion. “The general reopening is on the way now, but I’d be very cautious about getting anyone’s hopes up just yet.” Some people may have been surprised to see takeaway pints being sold over the last week, but it is in order, Darragh explained. “Every seven-day licence is also an off-licence, and as off-licences for the duration of the pandemic have been considered essential retail, anyone with a licence can trade. “Now, it’s not particularly viable for everyone. Most of the stock you normally sell in a pub you wouldn’t find the same things in an off-licence, you’d be talking about buying in stock in the hope that people would come to you instead of going to the place they …

Bishop Fintan Monahan shares the concerns of some people who fear Christmas Day will soon succumb to the demands of commercial pressure in the same way as Good Friday. Reflecting on the end of restrictions on the sale of alcohol in licensed premises on Good Friday, the Bishop of Killaloe has pointed out that many people have noted that the only two unique family days where alcohol could not be purchased were Christmas Day and Good Friday. However, the bishop believes it is now “just a matter of time until Christmas Day will succumb to the demands of commercial pressure in the same manner”. He described Good Friday as a special day in the Christian calendar, as it commemorates the death of Jesus Christ. He said it is a special day of mourning and a day when many Christians attend special religious ceremonies. Traditionally, because of the importance of the day and because it was the penultimate day of Lent, …