‘Our backs are to the wall!’

Pubs could re-open as early as next week, if the government approves draft guidelines published at the weekend but the chairman of the Vintners Federation in Cavan says some pubs will not be reopening and others may never reopen.

The guidelines, which run to 23 pages, stipulate among a range of measures table service only and customers will not be permitted to sit at the bar, as is currently the case for pubs serving food.

Where pubs implement one-metre social distancing, a time limit of one hour and 40 minutes will apply to customers and they must pre-book but, those who can ensure two-meter social distancing, will not be required to take bookings and no time limit will apply.

Eamon Denning, Cavan vintners chair, says many pubs in County Cavan will not be able to deliver two-meter social distancing in their premises.

“At least we are now making headway with the possible ingredients in a roadmap for re-opening but reports of time limits and booking tables will have to be examined closely. We can live with and operate the idea of only table service.

“Only very large pubs could operate any measure stipulating two-metre distancing. We will be seeking clarity on any possible refinements to these draft guidelines, before they become part of the Government plan to be announced next Tuesday,” he remarked.

If so-called ‘wet’ pubs are not not permitted to open, Mr Denning says the government must offer such publicans a decent package to allow.

“We require €1,500 to €2,000 per week to survive until the pub does open and we should have been getting that since last March. This would be to cover electricity, gas, rates and Insurance and upkeep. This would especially apply to publicans trying to educate their families,” said Mr Denning, the proprietor of the Stray Sod in Drung.

He is of the view that a lot of pubs won’t re-open for financial reasons, while others remain concerned for elderly family members or those with underlying medical conditions.

“The owners are in total despair. The normal way of life for publicans that has been there for years is gone. What are they going to get out of it?” asked Mr Denning.

He believes the guidelines for pubs serving food have been working well and believes they should have applied to all pubs, which should have been permitted to reopen at the same time. “It is not rocket science!”

Mr Denning also says it’s ironic there are Irish bars open all over the world but they remain closed in Ireland.

The Anglo-Celt spoke to a number of publicans right across the county in the past week to hear about their plans to reopen. Many are confident that, once they are given clear protocols in advance, they will be in a position to manage their re-opening safely.

Declan Sheridan from the Meadow View Inn believes all pubs should be allowed to re-open.

“We have done anything we have been asked to do. I think the grant that was offered to the publicans last week was a joke. This will have to be looked into and better compensation offered,” he said.

He’s calling for greater leadership from Government. “This COVID-19 is going to be with us for years and we will have to live with it and respect all the health regulations. It does not make sense to see shebeens operating and pubs, which are regulated, closed,” said Mr Sheridan.

Ciaran Mullen from Mullen’s Bar in Cootehill told the Celt that there needs to be a realistic financial package put on the table for the re-opening. The current offering from Government is for around €1,600 to €4,000 depending on the size of turnover.

“That is ridiculous, after us being the first people to volunteer to close our businesses on the 15th March. We closed up and walked away from our businesses and now we have to convince our good customers to come back into our pubs. €16 million to 3000 people in the trade is an insult – our backs are to the wall at the minute,” said Mr Mullen.

“During the day in our premises, we have retired people in for a few social drinks. Social distancing is no problem during the week, as there does not be too many people in the pub,” he said.

“Let us open up to the public and we will manage it from there. We can look after our customers. They are good to us and we are good to them,” assured Mr Mullen.

Mark Lynch from Kitty’s Bar in Cavan Town explained to the Celt that, as there company is a limited company, neither he nor his wife were entitled to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) while they were closed.

“From the day we closed up, we got no money. I am lucky enough to have a full time job, but I have to pay my insurance, CCTV, electricity etc out of my own money,” he said.

Mr Lynch also said many people, particularly those living alone, have missed the social outlet of a pint in their local. He said that some people in rural Ireland have become hermits in their own houses.

“The post offices have been closed. Now the pub is gone. They have been sitting at home for six months and they are actually miserable and they are afraid to go out again,” he said.

Sheila McKiernan from the Keeper’s Arms in Bawnboy said that those aged over 66 years were not entitled to any COVID-19 payments and were expected to cover the overheads from their business including insurance, lighting and heat out of their pensions.

“A lot of self employed publicans are dipping into their own personal savings to cover these expenses,” she said.

She added that Revenue will be looking for tax returns in October while many pubs remain closed.

“Nobody has any money to pay that income tax. How can you pay when you were not allowed to trade to earn money to pay your bills?” asked Ms McKiernan.

She added that, even when the pubs do open, their earning capacity will be reduced because of social distancing requirements.

Traynor’s Bar in Shercock has been trading on the streetscape in Shercock for 120 years and this is the first time it has been closed in all those decades.

Francis Traynor is the third generations of Traynors behind the counter but, unfortunately, has not been able to take up that position for six months now.

“We celebrated 120 years in business on the 15th February of this year and we had all the characters in here. Little did we think, we would be closed down a month later,” he told the Celt.

“My grandfather Frank WilliamTraynor opened the doors in the year 1900 and then my father took over at the age of sixteen and he retired when he was just 85. My wife and I and my sister Marie renovated the premises,” he said.

“I have a sister-in-law in Holland and all pubs are allowed to open and anyone who misbehaved, was closed down for two weeks,” said Mr Traynor of regulations in other countries.

“All the pubs should have been opened at the same time in this country. It was ridiculous that a fella with a sandwich and pint was okay and a fella with a pint was not okay,” slammed Mr Traynor.

Pat and Anne Murtagh have been behind the counter in their pub in Arva known as Murtagh’s for no less than 47 years.

“We have customers coming into the bar for all those decades and they are like friends to us. We feel sorry for our customers – it was like their meeting place. The format here with good conversation worked all our lives without music. There is a homely atmosphere in the bar,” said the Murtaghs.

Pat explained that, if customers are not allowed to sit at the counter while socially distant, the atmosphere will not be the same.

He has been receiving the pension since last year and was not entitled to any PUP payments.

“You have all the outgoings like heating, lighting, insurance, health insurance, refuse collection, alarm system and nothing coming in. You never thought of those things when there was an income from the bar. Whatever few bob we had is being eaten way to keep the day-to-day things going,” said the popular publican.

He revealed that both drink companies Heineken and Guinness were good and took back all the stock. Both Diageo and Heineken have found useful ways to convert, rather than dump, most of that beer.

Much is being used to generate biogas or to produce animal feed and fertiliser, including for Christmas trees.

There were up to 21 pubs in Arva back at the height of the fairs in the sixties. Many of those sold groceries and other provisions as well and they derived their main source of income from that end of the business.

“All the pubs should have been opened when they allowed the ones to open, which served food. The pub is the place where your meet people and talk to friends. They talk to us and they are nearly part of the family at this stage. Both young and old are missing out on that connection with people. You can chat and let off steam and have a laugh,” said Anne.

Anne Murtagh said she would be in favour of bringing the closing time back to 11pm and open at 4pm. “People would come out earlier and go home earlier,” she surmised.

“When people drink at home, there are no measures and many people are drinking on their own. It is just sad for a lot of people,” added Anne.