By Sean Moriarty

One Killarney publican is preparing for a very different New Year’s Eve following the latest Government restrictions announced this week.

ENJOY: Paudie O'Callaghan of the Fáilte says people can still go out an enjoy themselves. Photo: Sean Moriarty

On Tuesday evening, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the country that pubs, restaurants and nightclubs would have to close at 12 midnight in an effort to curb the growing number of COVID-19 numbers in the country.

The new rules came into effect last night (Thursday). The move comes less than one month after nightclubs were allowed reopen and pubs reverted to traditional closing times of 12.30am on weekends.

John Cronin of the Sportsman's Bar on High St welcomed the move.

“I think they made the right decision,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. “It has spread like wildfire once the nightclubs reopened - it is common sense – they are trying to control it. We are looking at a long run of it, maybe next March or April, until everyone gets vaccinated we are banging our heads off a stone wall.”

Despite welcoming the decision, Mr Cronin has already lost business on foot of the new restrictions. As well as his landmark pub he also offers lodgings to visitors in the upstairs portion of the pub.

“I already had cancellations for this weekend and I expect more to come,” he added.

New Year’s Eve

With the new rules in place Mr Cronin said New Year’s Eve will be a very different prospect this year.

Instead of welcoming in 2022 on the stroke of midnight and starting a party, he will be faced with closing his bar and sending customers home.

“New Year’s is out of the question,” he added, “5,4,3,2, - go home and celebrate…!”
 

“People can still go out and enjoy themselves” – Killarney publican

"People can still go out and enjoy themselves", that is the message from one Killarney publican who was reacting to the latest Government restrictions announced this week.

Paudie O’Callaghan runs the Fáilte Bar and Hotel on College St.

“People can still come out and enjoy themselves," he said. "This won’t really effect us now. Nobody knows what is coming down the track, I gave up trying to predict this thing a long time ago.”

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) has also confirmed that the new closing time restriction applies to hotel bars and all events being hosted, including weddings, whether guests are residents or not.