Pubs all across Ireland have been stepping out in solidarity of one another. Part of a nationwide campaign, publicans are calling for “support not sympathy” – asking Government to put proper measures in place to help those who are struggling given the current circumstances.
For many business owners around Ireland, today marks the five-month anniversary of being closed. Understandably not cause for celebration, publicans have been using the occasion to put pressure on Government and call for “support not sympathy”.
Forced to close back in early March, over 3,500 pubs remain closed with 25,000 publicans, staff and families affected. Writing that the industry is “long past the time for Government ‘sympathy'”, the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) is amongst those who have been highlighting all of the city’s amazing pubs.
Countless Dublin pubs have stepped out in solidarity with their fellow publicans, including Harry Byrne’s in Clontarf who tweeted to say that pubs are a big part of Irish culture and life.
Today Harrys stands in solidarity with all pubs across Ireland who are yet to open. Give them a chance to operate safely and within guidelines. The Irish pub is part of culture as a country and are a part of Irish life. @LVADublinPubs @LeoVaradkar #SupportNotSympathy pic.twitter.com/oGEvEB2TGF
— HarryByrnesClontarf (@harrybyrnespub) August 15, 2020
#SupportNotSympathy Our People, our family, our history, our tradition, our culture, and our world loved hospitality! We have been supporting clubs, charities, jobs and community all over Ireland! Supoort us, its an easy choice!@LeoVaradkar @Paschald @EamonRyan @cathmartingreen pic.twitter.com/NftMT9j6Ii
— Rody Bolands (@rodybolands) August 15, 2020
5 months closed. We are Supporting all the wetpubs incl @kavanaghscastle and @GarasTommy Family pubs ready to open responsibly!#SupportNotSympathy @MichealMartinTD@LeoVaradkar@Paschald@mmcgrathtd@DonnellyStephen@AodhanORiordain @RichardbrutonTD @sean_haughey @OCallaghanCian pic.twitter.com/LQtzAvMKs2
— Kavanaghs Marino (@KAVANAGHSMARINO) August 15, 2020
School childrens fees, college kids fees and part time jobs , nusring home fees for parents ,mortages , jobs . Time to wake up . #SupportNotSympathy @LeoVaradkar @DonnellyStephen @MichealMartinTD @EamonRyan pic.twitter.com/9LYuha1xOb
— The Kings Inn Dalkey (@DalkeyThe) August 14, 2020
Staff at Sean’s Bar, Ireland’s oldest pub, along with others all around the country, have also taken part in the campaign. Saying that they are not confident that they will be allowed to reopen anytime soon, they’re asking Government to provide meaningful support packages for the industry.
Header image via Twitter/Harry Byrne’s Clontarf
