So long as the virus stays suppressed.
Outdoor gatherings with less than 5,000 people may return as early as September, if the Covid-19 virus stays suppressed, the Taoiseach has said.
This leaves the door open for some gigs and cultural events to go ahead later this year. Cinemas may also be allowed to re-open in August with social distancing.
“If things continue to go in the right direction, and if the virus stays suppressed, I think we could see some small outdoor mass gatherings in September.
“Maybe outdoor cultural events of a few thousand people, maybe three or four or five thousand people, but unlikely to be more than that.
“I would envisage cinemas opening in August but socially distanced, and I am told that cinemas can operate at a profit socially distanced. That’s really hard for live performances for theatres, so that’s trickier,” he said.
Under the government’s Covid-19 restrictions, mass gatherings have been banned until 31 August.
But when it comes to indoor events, Culture Minister Josepha Madigan believes it will be more difficult for things to get underway again.
''It depends on the particular festival, also there's a reluctance from a lot of people to be in a crowded area because of the implications of Covid-19, that has to be taken int o account as well'', she said.
''What the arts council did from the very outset was they pre-funded a lot of organisations so that they wouldn't be left out, and we're going to make sure that doesn't happen''.
