Irish retail gets green light for May reopening

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Apr 30, 2021

They may be late to rejoin the wider reopening party, but non-essential retailers in the Republic of Ireland will have their trading restrictions lifted from mid-May.

The Irish government said it will ease several Covid-19 restrictions over the next month. The current period of Ireland's Level 5 restrictions was due to end on May 4 but the government has chosen to extend those restrictions for another week before gradually easing restrictions throughout May and June.

"As disruptive, as lonely, as frustrating and as sad as the last year has been, we are getting through it and a degree of normality is returning. ... Hope is returning”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in a televised address.

Non-essential retail is set to return on 17 May after having been closed since early December. A week earlier (10 May), hairdressers will be able to reopen.

From 2 June, domestic tourism will open again just before the June holiday weekend as hotels, bed & breakfasts, hostels and guesthouses are due to reopen on this date. Indoor dining will be allowed for residents only. Leisure facilities will also be restricted to guests.

From 7 June, outdoor services will return for restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, the Irish government will also consider the further easing of restrictions on 5 July, including the reopening of indoor hospitality and the return of outdoor mass gatherings such as spectators at a sporting event.