The village where pubs will stay closed on Good Friday

THREE pub owners in a Co. Meath village will stay closed on Good Friday and ignore the new law allowing publicans to serve alcohol for the first time in 90 years.

The Government’s removal of the ban on selling alcohol on the religious festival was welcomed by the majority of vintners in January.

Not so in Drumconrath, where publicans Dermot Muldoon, Pauline Fay and Pat Dempsey have decided to honour the time-old tradition and keep a lid on drinks. ‘Publicans get two days off in the whole year, just two, so we decided to keep that holiday as well as keeping up the tradition and having a bit of respect for our religion,’ said Dermot.

Pauline added: “I’ve received 100% backing from my customers, some of whom have said that even if I was open on Good Friday, they wouldn’t come in.’