Good day for a pint
Padraig Cribben with Glenmalure Lodge owner Anne Dowling and her son Michael yesterday PUBS are set to make history today as they open for the first time in over 90 years for a Good Friday booze-up.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said removing the ban was about introducing choice for the customer and the publican.
Chief Padraig Cribben added: “The extra day’s business is a welcome boost to the pub trade. It is estimated Good Friday will generate over €40million in sales for pubs throughout the country.
“It will also generate more than €7million in VAT and Excise Duty contributions to the Exchequer.”
Meanwhile, almost 368,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport between today and Sunday, a 10% increase on the same period last year.
Spokeswoman Siobhan O’donnell said: “The recent cold weather may have been a a contributory factor in the double-digit increase in passengers travelling this Easter.”
And those who are holidaying in Ireland are being asked to take extra care while making the journey.
Figures released by An Garda Siochana and the Road Safety Authority yesterday showed 59 people have been killed or seriously injured in Easter Bank Holiday crashes since 2012.
RSA chief Moyagh Murdock said “Nobody ever thinks something bad like being in a crash will ever happen to them, but it can.”