'Great old evenings' to return as pubs set to reopen across the country

Easing of Covid-19 restrictions for wet pubs outside Dublin sees many of them opening their doors again on September 21

Maureen O'Sullivan, proprietor of The Strand Bar, Matehy, Vicarstown, Co Cork, opens the door as the last of the preparations are underway for the re-opening of pubs. Picture: Larry Cummins

“Locals missed the pub, and I missed the pub, it was lonesome,” said Mary O’Donovan, who was forced to close her eponymous rural pub for the first time in 45 years when the pandemic struck.

“It’s been like a morgue in the community without it open. No pub was open in the village, it was a big loss. We used to have great old evenings here.”