Re-opening Meath: Athboy retailer can't wait to get going again after being closed for nine of the last 13 months

Having been closed for nine of the last 13 months, retailers across the county are preparing to fully reopen from 17th May, while click and collect can operate from next Monday.

Reopening cannot come soon enough for McElhinneys For Men in Athboy, where they are all set to open their doors.

"It has been a very tough year," says Padraig McElhinney. "It has been particularly tough in the menswear trade where you have the winter and summer seasons and we lost our winter and summer sales.

Preparations are well underway for the reopening.

"The spring stock is arriving and we have our sanitizing stations in place. Everything is ready. It is just a matter of getting the doors open," he said.

McElhinneys have had an online presence throughout the pandemic. "We are on Facebook and Instagram and it kept us ticking over. It has been steady, but nothing like it would be when the doors are open. People like to be able to come in and see the clothes, feel them and fit them on.

"We are looking forward to reopening and we hope we won't have to go into lockdown number four. With vaccinations in full swing, we should see a massive change," said Mr McElhinney.