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Good Friday closure controversy

The Good Friday closure controversy or Good Friday Disagreement[1] refers to the 2010 court case which saw publicans in Limerick, Ireland apply to be exempted from the prohibition on selling alcohol on Good Friday of that year.

The case came about following the scheduling of a 2009–10 Celtic League match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in the city on 2 April 2010 which coincided with Good Friday that year. Until 2018, pubs in Ireland were normally not permitted to open on either Good Friday or Christmas Day.[2] This law, dating from 1927, also originally included Saint Patrick's Day, though that prohibition was later repealed.[3] Drinkers often dodge the law by taking to trains, upon which alcohol is allowed, and having their parties there.[4] In 1910, pubs in Athlone faced a similar dilemma about opening on Saint Patrick's Day but remained closed.[5]

The match had sold out by the time the court application took place.[6][7][8] It was due to kick off at 20:05 and television rights had already been agreed.[9][10] Vintners argued that Limerick publicans stood to lose revenue valued at around €6 million or as much as €10 million if they were prevented from opening for business as normal.[11][12] The State and the Garda Síochána opposed a change.[13][14] It was considered a landmark case even before it had begun,[6][13] and at the end was hailed as an "historic ruling",[15] and a watershed in Church-State relations.[16]

The vintners won and pubs were permitted to do business on Good Friday in the Republic of Ireland for the first time since 1927 (though only in Limerick).[15][16][17][18] Commentators such as Ian O'Doherty in the Irish Independent expressed disappointment that it would still be illegal to sell alcohol in Dublin on the same day.[19]

  1. ^ Billy Keane (27 March 2010). "Ale's well that ends well for rugby fans". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 March 2010. The papers are full of the Good Friday Disagreement.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Licensed vintners to seek permission for Good Friday trading was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Jerome Reilly (7 March 2010). "Pub owners raise bar in bid to end Good Friday drinking ban". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  4. ^ Michael Kelly (28 March 2010). "Court rules pubs in Irish city can open Good Friday for rugby match". The Catholic Review. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  5. ^ "1910: Should Athlone pubs close on St Patrick's Day?". The Westmeath Independent. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Cheers from publicans to landmark ruling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Limerick vintners meet senior gardaí". RTÉ. 9 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  8. ^ Mike Dwane (20 March 2010). "Limerick publicans go to court after failing to obtain Good Friday agreement". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  9. ^ Jimmy Woulfe (16 March 2010). "Publicans seek Good Friday rugby exemption in court". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  10. ^ Gerry Thornley (6 March 2010). "Fizz is taken out of Good Friday match". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  11. ^ "Limerick vinters to launch court bid to open on Good Friday". breakingnews.ie. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  12. ^ Mike Dwane (8 March 2010). "Gardai and Limerick publicans meet over Good Friday opening for rugby fans". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Limerick pubs to open on Good Friday was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Publicans toast court ruling on historic Good Friday opening was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ a b "Irish pubs to open on Good Friday as locals worship rugby". The Daily Telegraph. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Good Friday beer for fans while the Church fears for their spirits was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Shawn Pogatchnik (25 March 2010). "Irish pubs to open on Good Friday for first time". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  18. ^ Ian O'Doherty (26 March 2010). "Ian O'Doherty: This Good Friday ban is driving me to drink". Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 March 2010.

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