March 30, 2018: Dublin's Temple Bar packed with people on the first Good Friday since new legislation allowed pubs to remain open on Good Friday.RollingNews.ie
In 2018, pubs in Ireland opened on Good Friday for the first time since a 1927 ban on selling alcohol on the religious holiday was lifted.
On January 25, 2018, the Dáil (Irish Parliament) passed with all-party support a bill that overturned the decades-long ban on alcohol being sold in Ireland on Good Friday, which is an Irish national holiday.
On March 30, 2018, pubs across Ireland opened their doors legally on Good Friday for the first time, and from the looks of things, it was one big party.
One of the first Good Friday pints was pulled at Slattery's in Dublin city center at 7 am - a tad early by normal standards, but you only live once (that's a funny thing to say on Good Friday!).
Brian Conlon from Slattery’s pub pulls one of the first legal pints at 7am this Good Friday morning. The ban on selling alcohol on this day was lifted in January #historic #GoodFriday pic.twitter.com/Z8EPTe5PKu
— Gail Conway (@Gailiana) March 30, 2018
Some patrons made sure to enjoy their Good Friday pints with a well-balanced breakfast:
Shane McShea was the first customer @SlatterysBar to tuck into a ‘fry and a pint’ shortly after 7am today #GoodFriday The ban on the sale of alcohol has been lifted after 91 years pic.twitter.com/ATDStapfAG
— Gail Conway (@Gailiana) March 30, 2018
At The Classroom Bar in Lismore, Waterford, one man did the classic pint + creme egg pairing:
A real Irish cream egg to celebrate pubs open on good Friday!! The Classroom Bar, Lismore, Co Waterford @JOEdotie #GoodFriday #Easter #EasterWeekend #Pub #GUİNNESS pic.twitter.com/KhfIRlx6Dq
— gary mc inerney (@larrythecat7) March 30, 2018
In Cork, Maura Hallinan, Ireland's oldest pub landlady at an impressive 98 years of age, was behind the bar from 4 pm.
She's just 91 years old & pulling her first #GoodFriday pint. See #3News @12.30 @VFIpubs pic.twitter.com/Mm0iaTZMRr
— Paul Byrne (@PaulByrne_1) March 30, 2018
"Since 1968 I've been pulling pints and this is the first year that I can open," she told Cork's Red FM.
Americans, who are very accustomed to pubs being open on Good Friday, also joined in on the fun:
Two American tourists enjoying a pint on #GoodFriday @thebankersbar @LVADublinPubs #greatfriday pic.twitter.com/cbrBDmcLF6
— thebankers (@thebankersbar) March 30, 2018
This Castlebar publican had a thoughtful take on the historic moment:
And others thought the pubs were sparse in comparison to the crowds at the illegal "lock-ins" on Good Fridays past:
"I've seen more people in the pub on a Good Friday when it was banned!" @OverheardDublin #pubtalk #dublin #irishpub pic.twitter.com/7QWGTa4RWP
— The Cobblestone 🎻 (@CobblestoneDub) March 30, 2018