After the easing of restrictions last Saturday, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs nationwide welcomed customers back with no restrictions for the first time in almost two years.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin announced an immediate end to almost all public health restrictions towards the end of January, after almost two years of the country facing Covid-19.
Almost all restrictions on pubs, restaurants and nightclubs were lifted, and life could return to some sense of normality. The restrictions lifted include the requirement for a Digital Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate and the discontinuation of collecting contact details for contact tracing purposes.
Mask wearing for customers is no longer necessary on hospitality premises though staff still require masks if their role involves interacting with customers. Early closing times, capacity restrictions, social distancing measures as well as limits on bar services have all been abolished
DCU staff and students saw a return to normality for their college bar, Nubar. Speaking to The College View, Nubar staff expressed their excitement at the lifting of restrictions and a return to pre-pandemic closing times, with no limit on capacity
One member of staff said, “Staff are feeling excited and happy. It’s a step in the right direction and good to be back to normal.”
Nubar staff also expressed a cautious optimism for bigger events ahead for DCU students once cases reduced further after the Omicron wave.
“Covid is still very much present in the community. Going forward when it’s more safe…we hope to have some return to events and ‘big’ nights.” they added.
DCU students also shared their excitement and optimism about the lifting of restrictions, who were looking forward to making up for the nights out they missed due to the pandemic.
“I am obviously very happy that hospitality is back open, especially Nubar,” said Conor McKeever, a second year Journalism student in DCU.
“For a college campus to have their bar back open is huge for the students. It brings a bit of buzz back to the campus.”
McKeever added that he feels like this decision came at the right time and that “we’ve to start living with it,”.
First year Multimedia student Shauna Clinton shared positive sentiments on a welcome return to normality for young people who were left trapped at home as their youth passed them by.
Clintion said, “I’m so happy that things are reopening. For the past two years I felt like my life was at a standstill. Going into my 20s I felt like this is supposed to be the prime of your life and I wasn’t being able to live it to the fullest.”
Seán Jevens
Image Credit: Nubar on Facebook