Pubs with no beer break an age-old Good Friday tradition

Meath pubs made history on Good Friday when they were among the first pubs in the country to ever open on the religious feastday. However, unlike pubs in Limerick which got special dispensation to seel liquor as a result of the Munster v Leinster rugby match, the Meath premises which opened were not selling alcohol and were only able to serve food. One of the country's best-known publicans, Charlie Chawke, announced he was going to open his premises in Dublin on Good Friday as he had discovered that the 2000 Licensing Act allows pubs to open on Good Friday as long as they don't sell alcohol, and a number of vintners around the country followed suit. Ryan's pub in Trimgate Street, Navan, was one of the premises to open on Friday, selling food up until 3pm. Manager Damien Clarke explained that they opened from 10am to 3pm and were quite busy, firstly selling coffees and scones and later serving lunches. "Nobody looked for drink and we had all our drink displays and the taps covered," he said. "People who came in told us it was great to be able to get a cup of coffee or lunch." Mr Clarke said that Friday lunchtime was usually very busy for them and last Friday was as busy as ever. Just up the street, O'Flaherty's pub in Navan was another premises which opened for a period on Good Friday. According to a spokesperson, the premises opened from 9am to 5pm, serving food and nobody made any attempt to buy alcohol. Jack's Railway Bar in Kells opened from 6pm to 11pm on Friday night, again serving food, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Spokesperson Jess Olohan said they had cleared it with the Gardai and the main reason for opening was to facilitate their many customers who were rugby fans. "The match was shown on Setanta and many of our customers may not have been able to see it otherwise," she said.