Defiant publican set to reopen bar

THE defiant owner of Ireland’s first “Covid- free” pub pledged to open his bar last night despite warnings.

Eileen’s Bar in Mayo plans to use a rapid coronavirus test on customers before allowing them entry.

Donal Byrne was forced to defend his plans as pubs that do not serve food are currently closed due to the pandemic.

Following an Irish Mirror story, he said: “Food does not stop Covid.

“I’m not naive and I know that some people are going to have issues with this.

“We’ve seen social media with receipts up for two burgers and 24 pints.

“There’s an awful lot of illegal activity going on.”

Mr Byrne said there is a mental health crisis in rural Ireland and “one size does not fill all”.

He added: “The rules that are made for Dublin should not be implemented throughout the west of Ireland.”

Asked by RTE if he will close if told he is in breach of the regulations, he said he will “deal with that when the issue arises”.

He added: “We feel that we’ve gone through this legally and we feel that we’ve good standing.”

Eileen’s Bar has hired medical professionals to do the tests, which cost € 10 per customer. Mr Byrne said

STRONG STANCE Donal Byrne at Mayo bar if positive cases arise the area will be decontaminated using a fog machine to kill the virus.

Dr Yvonne Williams from Shannon Medical Centre, Co Clare, told RTE the tests were not accurate and people should avoid socialising.

Mr Byrne claims the rapid antigen tests from Moelab in Germany are 99.9% accurate and will be rolled out by the Government in “coming weeks”.

The publican told the Irish Mirror the kits are being used here already in pharmaceutical companies and nursing homes.

He told Midwest Radio: “We have ticked all the boxes.

“I went through everything with a finetooth comb to make sure what I was doing was correct and the kits we were using were correct.

“I am happy to stand over that.”

The Irish Mirror has contacted the Department of Health and Communicare Medical Supplies, suppliers of the rapid- testing kits for comment.

A Vintners Federation of Ireland spokesperson said: “All pubs must follow the guidelines.

“We believe that when restaurants and pubs serving food opened last week traditional pubs should also have been allowed to open but Government refused to budge on the issue.”