Ireland's oldest pub to reopen for first time since pandemic began

One of the country's most well-known pubs, Sean's Bar in Athlone, will be reopening for the first time since the pandemic began in just over two weeks' time.

The Main Street pub, which has been shut since March 14, 2020, announced this week that it would begin serving again on the upcoming Bank Holiday Monday, June 7.

General Manager Declan Delaney said that in recent weeks there's been "a constant stream of messages every day" from people asking when the pub would be reopening.

"The excitement is building a little bit," he told the Westmeath Independent.

"It's a Bank Holiday Monday, so people will be off work, and some people are booking the next day off work already.

"I think there will be demand every day of the week. We have upgraded our beer garden as well, and made some nice changes to it, so people are looking forward to seeing that."

Table service will be in operation at the pub, but unlike last year there will be no time limit and no requirement for people to order food.

"We just want to get back trading, after being closed for 15 months," said Declan.

"It probably still won't feel like we're properly open until social distancing is gone and indoor (service) is open, and all of that, but it is good to get going again and get people back working again."

With its origins believed to date back to 900AD, Sean's Bar was recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as Ireland's oldest pub.