All pubs in Ireland told to close; Warning issued on house parties 

ALL pubs, including hotel bars, have been asked to close from tonight until at least 29 March, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Government has also strongly advised against house parties while the pubs are closed.

Discussions were held today with the Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) before the request was made by government. 

Images and footage emerged on social media last night showing hundreds of people packed into pubs, particularly in Temple Bar.

Earlier today, publicans in Dublin's Temple Bar had announced a complete shutdown of all bars and nightclubs with immediate effect.

The move means no bars will be open in Ireland for St Patrick's Day, one of the busiest days in the Irish tourism calendar.

Earlier, Cork publican Benny McCabe had made his own personal decision to close all 15 of his bars in Cork, saying he feared his staff would bring coronavirus home to elderly parents.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr McCabe, who owns Crane Lane, Mutton Lane, The Oval and Sin é among others, said it was the right thing to do.

“It was the right thing to do. We need to take action now and that is the end of it.

“I don’t want my staff bringing illness home to their parents, number one and number two I have been building this business for 25 years and the integrity of my business is not worth staying open for the next two weeks.

“Personally, it is catastrophic but put a price on it, you can’t put a price on it, it is simply not worth it.” 

Mr McCabe said he made the decision in consultation with his staff and a number of publicans around the city.

“It takes time to shut a pub, some closed Sunday, some closed last week."

The 49-year-old publican said that this would be his first St Patrick’s Day off in 43 years, since he started glass collecting in pubs at the age of six.

“I am delighted not to be working on Paddy’s Day. I think all of us are in one way glad of the break “Everybody needs to treat this as a pause in their lives, for the benefit of others who are less fortunate.

“Business sentiment goes out the window, money goes out the window, it’s material, that’s it. When we are told we can open again we will open again."