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EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

The 150th anniversary celebration of a popular Killarney pub has been put on hold as a result of the extension of the Government’s pub closure order.

Hussey’s Bar on High Street was first opened in 1870 and its current owner Geraldine Hussey, the great-granddaughter of the pub’s founders, was hopeful she could mark the occasion in a special way during the summer.

Her hopes were dashed on Tuesday evening when the Government announced plans to extend its pub closing order until at least August 31.

Hussey’s Bar closed on March 15, days before the Government’s COVID-19 lockdown.

“I am a fourth generation bar owner and I am celebrating 50 years of pulling pints this year,” Geraldine told the Killarney Advertiser. “We were all set to celebrate this year but it looks like it will have to wait until next year. I have family in Australia too and they are finding it difficult to travel. I would not want to have it without them.”

Geraldine is in the process of refurbishing her landmark bar on High St ahead of a potential reopening date in late August.  include the removal of a dividing wall between the existing bar and a private room in the house to allow for extra space in line with social distancing regulations. The work was not going to be completed before August 10, the initial proposed reopening date, but it will be completed in time for the new date at the end of the month, assuming she is given the green light to reopen.