‘A real buzz’: Party atmosphere nationwide as ‘Freedom Weekend’ brings huge bounce-back for bars and restaurants – Independent.ie

Party-goers splashed the cash to the tune of tens of millions of euro as they rejoiced in the lifting of restrictions in what has been dubbed Freedom Weekend.

carnival atmosphere prevailed in towns and cities all over the country as people gave dry January the heave-ho and celebrated with abandon for the first time in nearly two years as the country re-emerges from the pandemic.

Large crowds throngedbars, restaurants and hotels as ecstatic fun-seekersreunited with friends and family to celebrate Taoiseach Michel Martinsreopening ofsociety from 6am on Saturday.

The hospitality industry is enjoying the considerable bounce-backfrom the weekend, with Adrian Cummins of the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) estimating tens of millions were spent.

The speed of the announcement, following on from the National Public Health Emergency Teams (Nphet) advice, took many by surprise, including some publicans who have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic.

Ronan Lynch, a third-generation publican who runs the Swan Bar on Dublins Aungier Street, described Saturday as a really emotional day and said it was wonderful to see scenes not witnessed since pre-pandemic times.

This puts the air back into the citys lungs which has been missing for so long. Its very important for us because the city has been flat.

People are just happier in themselves today, you can just see it, he told the Irish Independent.

People were coming into the pub going, we really missed it and getting incredibly emotional. I saw people crying on Friday night watching the announcement. They were fist-pumping, jumping up and down, cheering, father and sons hugging.

It was just amazing how central the pub is to peoples lives and you dont realise it at the time. It is unique and people have really, really missed it.

It was great seeing customers at the counter again for the first time in two years. We got a huge amount of support on Saturday. We had big groups of people who hadnt met in a long time going, Lets go and have a pint with no restrictions. It was a party kind of atmosphere which was just great to see.

"It was like a weight waslifted off everyones shoulders. They had missed going out, socialising and the randomness of boy-meets-girl it was abouthaving a bit of fun and banter.

While hospitality staff have to continue to wear face coverings, its no longer mandatory for customers and social distancing is now gone in those settings.

Noel Anderson, who co-owns The Bridge and Lemon & Duke, said the city atmosphere was electric over the weekend.

I havent seen it like that in a long, long time. It was great to see people sitting back at the counter and chatting to staff again.

"There was a real buzz in town. You could see the buses going into the city centre were all full and there was a real St Patricks Day feel about it. It was hard to get a taxihome on Saturday night, he said.

Mr Anderson, chairperson of the Licensed Vintners Association,admits he was taken aback at the swift pace of the country reopening.

Nphethave spent the past two years surprising us in a bad way I'm not having a go but this time, they surprised us in a good way, he said.

They obviously felt that businesses have suffered long enough, let them off. Everyone was just in a state of shock. It was a bit surreal. Lots of publicans felt like Is this actually happening?

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'A real buzz': Party atmosphere nationwide as 'Freedom Weekend' brings huge bounce-back for bars and restaurants - Independent.ie