First pints in192days as pubs re-open
‘FIRST PINT IN 192 DAYS SURE TASTES LIKE PURE HONEY’ - BUT COMPANY AND CRAIC MATTER MOST
“THE first pint in 192 days sure tastes like pure honey!”
The words of Newmarket man Denis Roche who sampled his first pint since March on Monday as the pubs re-opened for business.
From early on opening day, some punters were making their way to their locals, but it was around 9pm on Monday night that the reopening shifted into high gear and many of the pubs The Corkman called into were buzzing with cheerful, happy customers who were thrilled to have their local bar on tap again.
But punters were not just hailing the pints, they were quick to highlight the return to the craic, too.
AFTER a prolonged drought there is nothing as refreshing as a couple of pints of delicious draught - or so The Corkman was told while on a whistlestop tour of pubs as they reopened around North Cork on Monday.
However, it seems that it’s not the alcohol per se that is the ultimate attraction here- it’s the company, the craic, the sharing of news and stories and the human contact that people missed and craved during the past six months of pub lockdown.
From early on opening day some punters were making their way to their locals, but it was around 9pm on Monday night that the reopening shifted into high gear and many of the pubs The Corkman called into were buzzing with cheerful, happy customers who were thrilled to have their local bar on tap again.
Some of the punters shared their own unique perspective on the reopening ...
Jack McAuliffe, Ballydesmond: “We really missed coming into our local, so I’m delighted to be back”.
John Joe Bradley, Ballydesmond: “It’s mighty to be back at the Harp and Shamrock, I come in for a pint on Monday and Friday mornings and for a few on Saturday nights after Mass. I missed the company and the stories, although several of them could be lies! I missed the fun and the craic so it’s great to have the pubs opened again”.
Julia Murphy, proprietor of the Shamrock’s, Kiskeam: “It was really wonderful to open the door this morning (Monday) and welcome our old friends back in. At the start of lockdown in March, I said we’ll have a bit of a break, maybe two weeks, little did we know we would still be closed six months later. Hopefully now, all will go well and we can remain opened.”
Michael Scanlon, proprietor of Scanlon’s Bar, Newmarket: “It’s lovely to see everyone back after such a long time, hopefully we will be able to stay going long term, for now we’ll just take one day at a time and hope for the best”.
John Guerin, Newmarket: “Nice to see all the bars opened again, and to be able to enjoy a pint and meet old friends”.
Denis Roche, Newmarket: “The first pint in 192 days sure tastes like pure honey!”.
John Buckley, Kelly’s Bar, Kanturk: “We’re delighted to be back, customers will finally get to see all the work we’ve done on the bar over the past six months, and to enjoy our cocktail menu here in the bar instead of take out”.
Martin Lucey, Boherbue: “Delighted to be able to call into our local again, hopefully they will remain open”.
English Bob, Newmarket: “I’m really happy to be able to come into Scanlon’s again, it’s a special pub with a great family atmosphere”.