Whelans Bar. Image: facebook/whelansbarmaidenstreet''If a texan can come into Ireland and go where he likes our door is open to our customers.''
A pub owner in Co. Limerick says he is opening on Monday morning despite government advice not to do so.
Gearoid Whelan, from Whelan's bar in Newcastle West, says if the airports are allowed open than he has every right to do the same.
The government announced on Wednesday that pubs which just sell alcohol will not be able to open until the 10th of August.
We will b open at 11am monday morning??. Thanks for all the support. If a texan can come into Ireland and go where he likes our door is open to our customers who we have served for almost 70 years??. Family run and 100% safe environment. Looking forward to seeing our friends???
— Gearoid Whelan (@whelansbar1) July 16, 2020
Taking to Twitter, Gearoid wrote: "250 people [are] landing in this country on a daily basis from USA, an epicentre of Covid, and I'm being advised to keep my pub closed in west Limerick where we have had only a handful of cases in 4 months (thank God)," he wrote. "Enough is enough."
He says he has spent thousands of euro installing social distancing measures in the bar.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, he said: “I’ve redesigned the bar, which cost up to €10,000, with screens, sanitising stations, you name it, we’ve done it, done all we can to make it as safe as possible,” he said.
“It’ll be a public house, walk off the street and have a drink if you want.”
