*Cllr Pat Daly and Cllr Johnny Flynn. Photograph: Martin Connolly

An Ennis councillor has called on the Irish Government to reopen urban and rural pubs to dilute the dangers associated with house parties and the spread of COVID-19 across the county.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) stressed the need for all pubs including those not capable of serving ‘a substantial meal’ worth €9 to be allowed to reopen at the end of August.

He flagged that some pubs currently open are operating despite not being able to serve food and are adapting by bringing in pizza and other food from takeaway outlets.

With only a selection of pubs currently trading, Cllr Daly believed that by opening all pubs it would give the public more choice and limit the amount of people at one setting. He said that a booking system should also be implemented for pubs that are unable to serve food.

“Publicans are no fools, they will adhere to the rules,” the former Mayor of Ennis stated. He detailed that crowds in Clare pubs on week-nights were low prior to the virus and insisted that extra vigilance would be required on weekends were the pulling of pints be given the go-ahead in all pubs.

Cllr Daly added, “I don’t think reopening the pubs would be a threat and I don’t think it would increase the spread of COVID-19”.

Sustained closures of pubs is affecting people of a wide range of demographics. “The social side of life is missing,” he said.

“House parties are a bigger threat to getting the virus than going to the pub because the majority of publicans will adhere to COVID rules. Parties in most instances are very difficult to control and that is what is happening almost every weekend,” Daly concluded.

Related News

danceperadospic
World Champion dancer Michael Donnellan's 'Danceperados' to light up glór this weekend
eb5aad8e-4413-400b-9ed5-c8ef6c7fd8a2 (1)
20 years of smiles at Ennis Orthodontic Practice
Clare Business Excellence Awards at Inn At Dromoland
Beckman Coulter wins Clare Business of the Year 2024
hitch hike 1
Ennis man faces new 'petrol bomb' Powerade charge while threatening to kill hitch-hiker
Latest News
Clare Business Excellence Awards at Inn At Dromoland
Beckman Coulter wins Clare Business of the Year 2024
pj fitzpatrick
Motions to structures meeting blocked by findings of hurling review committee
clare lgfa agm 03-12-24 teresa roseingrave 1
Clare LGFA AGM cut short by lack of officers & Roseingrave enters the Chair
hitch hike 1
Ennis man faces new 'petrol bomb' Powerade charge while threatening to kill hitch-hiker
ge24 election count 01-12-24 timmy dooley win 1
Dooley's day 'hugely humbling' for Timmy
Premium
hitch hike 1
Ennis man faces new 'petrol bomb' Powerade charge while threatening to kill hitch-hiker
ge24 election count 01-12-24 timmy dooley win 1
Dooley's day 'hugely humbling' for Timmy
clare v dublin 24-06-23 46 mark rodgers
Clare top O'Neill's best jersey seller for 2024
ge24 election count Cathal Crowe France daly
'We went from a funeral back into a campaign' - Crowe relieved to be nearing end of long political year
éire óg v st breckans 06-08-22 35 maurice walsh
Walsh in running to be next Clare U20 manager

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top