218 Mayo pubs urgently require publication of July 20 opening guidelines

Up to 218 Mayo pubs who are yet to open have called for the urgent publication of the reopening guidelines, according the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI).

Despite being due to open in just 11 days, these pubs still don’t know how they will need to adapt their businesses to ensure they comply with the public health requirements.

The delay is also causing anxiety in some rural communities, with many of these unopened pubs serving as the only gathering locations or hospitality venues in their area.

According to the VFI, the majority of rural pubs are yet to open, particularly along the western seaboard.

The county with the largest number of unopened pubs is Cork with 473, followed by Galway (273), Tipperary (223), Kerry (221), Mayo (218) and Donegal (180).

Marie Mellett, owner of Mellett’s Bar in Swinford, said the lack of guidelines is hampering preparations for reopening.

“After placing public health first by agreeing to close our business over 120 days ago, we’re now crying out for the guidelines that will allow us reopen,” says Marie.

“It’s a simple question: ‘where are the guidelines?’ We are literally just days away from July 20 but there is nothing from government.

“For most rural pubs the bar counter is where all the action is, but we don’t even know if bar stools will be allowed.

"If they’re not, the impact on small pubs will be massive as many of our customers will only sit at the bar.”

For Vivian Walsh, owner of The Old Grainstore in Westport, said the absence of guidelines is a major worry as he continues to refurbish his pub ahead of reopening.

“We’re making a substantial investment in our business by renovating the outside area to increase capacity, which is happening effectively in a vacuum as we don’t know what the guidelines will state.

"With just over a week to opening, to find ourselves in this situation is simply incredible.”

The full list of pubs yet to open by county is as follows:

Carlow 58

Cavan 114

Clare 169

Cork 473

Donegal 180

Galway 273

Kerry 221

Kildare 82

Kilkenny 94

Laois 61

Leitrim 54

Limerick 208

Longford 54

Louth 105

Mayo 218

Meath 122

Offaly 73

Roscommon 121

Sligo 78

Tipperary 223

Waterford 125

Westmeath 97

Wexford 143

Wicklow 92

Total 3,438