‘Not disposable’ – Pubs mark one year of closure with messages of anger, nostalgia and hope

James Fenton

On March 15 2020, it was announced that all pubs would be asked to close for a period of two weeks as Ireland looked to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Now, here we are exactly one year on and there are pubs across the land that are yet to reopen their doors to customers. This morning, publicans have been posting on social media to remind the Government of their importance to Irish life and culture, with the hashtag #notdisposable doing the rounds on Twitter.

Pictures of happier times are being shared far and wide with the summer looming over the horizon, it’s hoped that the message will be heard by the Government loud and clear…

Táimid dúnta ós cionn bliana anois. Beimid ar ais !! Closed now over a year. We will be back. Bigger and better! We are #NotDisposable ! Musicians and artists are #NotDisposable pic.twitter.com/puWvCfq9oR

— The Four Provinces (@The4Prov) March 15, 2021

Lifelong friends, celebrating good times… in the pub… matter.. a lot #NotDisposable @MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar @EamonRyan @cardagh @LVADublinPubs #365days pic.twitter.com/Bq6IjliDkQ

— The Two Sisters Pub (@twosisters6w) March 15, 2021

A year ago today we were asked to suspend our welcome and close our doors. It’s been 50 weeks but happier times will return. #NotDisposable pic.twitter.com/Kru0qARwBa

— Mother Macs (Limerick, Ireland) (@mothermacspub) March 15, 2021

We should be gettin ready for the busiest week of the year, we will be back. #NotDisposable @LeoVaradkar @MichealMartinTD pic.twitter.com/GKiqfbAEvK

— Gearoid Whelan (@whelansbar1) March 15, 2021

We closed our doors one year ago today – we have had some great days here over the years. We will be back #NotDisposable @LVADublinPubs @VFIpubs pic.twitter.com/4Zwu6E0cbD

— DarkeyKellys-Nathy Towey (@BarDarkey) March 15, 2021

All these good times will be back again. Pubs and nightclubs closed a year today with only a few barely trading at all. Our cracking industry is #NotDisposable @MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar pic.twitter.com/xgUOno7uik

— The Bridge 1859 (@TheBridge1859) March 15, 2021

We closed our doors a year ago and we as an industry are #NotDisposable. We miss our customers. @MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar @LVADublinPubs pic.twitter.com/a1wBQUxNb0

— The Swan Bar (@theswanbar1661) March 15, 2021

Our family at @phbrew bars @portercentral & @portertemple can't wait to get back to work. They are praying the vaccine roll out gets back on track and that the hospitality industry isn't forgotten. @MichealMartinTD we are #NotDisposable pic.twitter.com/2yvfHx46RI

— Dingle Distillery (@DingleWhiskey) March 15, 2021

Today, one year on from the official closing of pubs in Ireland, we want to share some photos showing some of the good times we've had over the years.

We are a place for celebration, a friendly chat, a Christmas pint, a bit of craic & so much more. We are #NotDisposable. pic.twitter.com/77qJA1Tusd

— Grogans Castle Lounge (@GrogansPub) March 15, 2021

So 12 MONTHS to the day from the #CloseThePubs Social Media campaign, those outraged have moved on to their next atrocity.
Meanwhile our businesses are still closed, our staff still out of work and there is no end in sight.
We're outraged that you've forgotten us#NotDisposable pic.twitter.com/0f5nJWsq31

— The Pubs Of Kerry (@ThePubsOfKerry) March 14, 2021

This time last year we closed our doors for the first time…. we will raise again….. @VFIpubs @LVADublinPubs #notdisposable pic.twitter.com/kTFAhomB85

— Paul Fagan (@paulfagan6) March 14, 2021

Hopefully we’ll be back behind the counter doing our jobs #notdisposable pic.twitter.com/c4XuFEw8TK

— TOMMY O GARAS (@GarasTommy) March 14, 2021

1 year closed. No dates for reopening. We want our customers back, we want to trade again, we want to be treated with the respect our industry deserves. #NotDisposable @LeoVaradkar @MichealMartinTD pic.twitter.com/72LhoILJYC

— Yew Tree (@YewTreeTerenure) March 15, 2021

Coming up on the first anniversary of our closure. It’s absolutely soul destroying to be in the Hospitality Industry right now with no end in sight. We are #NotDisposable We will come out of this stronger than when we went in. #limerick @VFIpubs @LVADublinPubs https://t.co/RSAShwtXY6

— Ma Hogans Bar, Limerick (@MaHogansBar) March 14, 2021

Grogans Castle Lounge in Dublin attempted to sum everything up by posting ‘These photos are a small glimpse into what makes Grogans, and the Irish pub so special. Real people, on both sides of the bar, who come together to celebrate the good times and commiserate in the hard times. We are important. We are #NotDisposable.’

The next Government review on Covid-19 restrictions is expected to arrive before April 5 but it has already been strongly indicated that pubs may have to wait a while longer before reopening.

(header pic: @GarasTommy)