Cheers! Reaction as pubs finally re-open

Joy, delight and relief were etched on the faces of Nenagh publicans on Monday as pubs that do not serve food were finally allowed to reopen after six months of closure due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

"It's a good day for us at long last," declared Noreen O' Sullivan who runs the renowned Rocky's bar in Kickham Street with her husband Jim.

Ms O' Sullivan said she and her husband were really looking forward to reopening day and and have pulled out all the stops to ensure their premises conforms with the restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus.

"We have parts of the premises nicely isolated with lots of alcoves for social distancing and all restrictions in place. We're all set up and good to go."

 

SAFETY FIRST

Ms O' Sullivan said she had completed a Fáilte Ireland-led training course to ensure everyone who enters the premies would be safe. And she revealed that even higher powers were called on to ensure that everything went well. "Jim got our good friend and neighbour Sister Ester to bless the place and now we are just delighted to be open again."

Ms O' Sullivan said she still harboured some fears about the future of the sector given the experience of wet pub owners in Dublin who have been forced to remain closed due to the relatively high level of coronavirus infections in that county.

"I do have a little bit of fear, but we here will be operating the guidelines to the highest standards because we are well aware just how serious this virus is," said Ms O' Sullivan, who is a qualified nurse. She said the mood was upbeat this week as customers looked forward to returning to the pub.

“My phone has been hopping with calls from well wishers. They are really looking forward to coming back to us. The support has been great, people really missed the place.”

She said that being closed for so long had been particularly hard on her husband Jim who virtually grew up in the business, having inherited it from his parents. "It was a bit of a break to be closed at first. But it became mentally hard not to be back in business as the months wore on, but hopefully it's upwards and onwards from here on."　

 

TOURISM SEASON MISSED OUT

Roy and Denise Breen who run Ciss Ryan's pub in the beautiful lakeside village of Garrykennedy said that missing the tourism season has been a big blow. However, there was great excitement in the pemises when it opened on Monday.

"It's an absolutely great day to be open," declared a delighted Roy, "After 37 happy years in the industry it is just like opening a new pub all over again. I have the same enthusiasm today as I had 37 years ago. Both of us are just so relieved and we have been very savvy about the way the premises is laid out to abide by all the restrictions.

"We are ready to go after 190 days of being shut,” said Mr Breen who had to shut shop on March 15th this year. I closed my doors on Sunday night March 15th this year and it's great now to open them again," said Mr Breen.