June 7, 2021




June 7, 2021, was a remarkable day in Irish history.


It was the day the pubs reopened after having been closed for 164 days, a period of closure never before experienced in the history of the nation. 


We all know the reason for this, ofcourse- the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lacklustre response from our government. 


Ireland is a small island in the middle of an ocean. We have 3 international airports and 2 ferry ports. We should have done the same as New Zealand where, as it happens, my cousin lives.


When it emerged that this was not some isolated incident in South East Asia, the New Zealand government made every Kiwi who was abroad come home immediately, kicked every non-resident out of the country and then basically locked up the country. They had 4 or 5 weeks of what in Ireland was Level 5 lockdown, then 3 weeks of Level 3 lockdown, and then.. life went back to normal. 

You could go to the pub, go watch a movie, there were crowds at the rugby, the works. Okay, you couldn’t leave the country without special government permission but that seems like a small price to pay, compared to the 15 months of lockdowns we have experienced here in Ireland.


Anyway, this is not about the way the government has handled this, it’s about the positive feeling that currently pervades  the country. 





When a government spokesperson confirmed that the prime minister would make a statement about further reopening of the country the next Monday, me and a couple of friends who are working in hospitality watched the PM’s speech together. 

The atmosphere was tense. Every time he announced new reopenings, we were willing him on to get to the important part- the pubs. 


Any football fan who has ever watched their favorite team having to go through a penalty shoot out after a Champions League final, or any other important final, knows that feeling. 

With shortened breath, dry mouths and clenched fists, we ached through the speech until, at long last, the word came out: Hospitality will reopen on June 7th. 


Everybody let out a sigh of relief. Fists punched the air, high fives were exchanged and everyone was happy.

It was over.


And I really do think it’s over. With infection rates going down and the vaccination program accelerating, the end of this nightmare really is in sight.


I don’t normally trust Michael Martin any further than I can throw him, but at that moment I felt like hugging him. His speech was very good. Eloquent, balanced and well written. 





Fast forward a couple of weeks. 

June 7 was only a few days away and I was counting the hours. 

You may say that I’m obsessed with pubs and beer, but it’s not just that. The reopening of the pubs signals the end to a period of restrictions on our freedom to do whatever we damn well please that none of us that haven’t lived in a war zone had ever experienced. 


We can go out drinking again. Go see a movie. Have dinner with our friends. Live life to the fullest again. 


June 7, 2021.


I woke up at 8.15AM, my wake up time for weekend days. Well, it was Monday but I had obviously taken the day off to celebrate. (On weekdays I get up at 5.15 because, well, you can read that here).


After my morning exercise routine, a shower and breakfast, I went for a walk, planning my route accurately so that I would arrive at the bar at exactly 11, opening time.


I couldn’t have planned it better. I walked onto the square in front of the bar at the exact moment one of the managers threw open the front door and put out the food menu sign.


Because it was a bank holiday and Ireland’s ridiculous rules on serving alcohol, I knew that my first beer would have to wait until 12.30, so I sat down at my table with a pint of Kola. But I had come prepared. In my backpack I had hidden 3 of those small plastic bottles of whiskey that you get on airplanes, which I mixed in with my Kola at intervals. I finished my spiked Kola at the exact moment that a waiter walked up to me and said that he could now take beer orders. I ordered a pint of Punk IPA and when it arrived I was the happiest man on earth. 





I got my first vaccination the day after the pubs reopened, which means I will be fully vaccinated before my birthday in July. Word around the campfire in the industry is that indoor reopening is expected in early to mid July, again, perfectly in time for my birthday. 

Cinemas will reopen this weekend. 


Vaccination is now open for people in the 30-35 age bracket, which means that everyone over the age of 20 will be vaccinated in the next 5 or 6 weeks. 


The past 15 months have been challenging for everyone, not least for those working in hospitality. My friends had to live with the constant uncertainty about whether their jobs would be secure. It’s not been easy on them, but eventually, we reached the light at the end of the tunnel. Life is good again. 


I can’t really come up with some profound closing statement at this moment so I’ll just leave you with the message that I’m going to find myself a new hoodie.






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