Good Friday pub decision a victory for common sense

Good Friday pub decision a victory for common sense


Opinion
Trevor Watson

A MAN sent in a text to the Ray D’arcy show on Today FM last week which read: “Limerick: no minister, no bishop, no hurling team, but fair play to the rugby boys, they can get the pubs to open on Good Friday. Munster rugby, greater than God.”
Now, this writer is not for one second proclaiming that the men in red are omnipotent, but it is great to see that common sense has prevailed in terms of the court exemption on the licensing laws.
There will be men (and women) dragging up all sorts of excuses to hit for Limerick this Friday. It is a monumental occasion which could see the start of Good Friday opening hours. It is not all that long ago that St Patrick’s Day was officially a no-pub day also. And see how that has changed.
And even more recently, the ‘holy hour’ on a Sunday afternoon which meant every suffering crΡthur had to be turfed out on the street at 2pm and the pubs wouldn’t open again until four.
In a time of the church’s ever decreasing circles, and a time of economic crisis, it is wonderful to see a judge with a bit of common sense who is willing to offer a solution which will keep everyone happy.
Many of the country’s more religious mindset will obviously vehemently oppose such a heathen move. The best of luck to them. Just because the pubs are open doesn’t mean they must visit them. Different strokes for different folks. It shouldn’t bother those who don’t want to be bothered.
But for those of us who do enjoy rugby and the accompanying social scene, it is a ground-breaking move. It will be worth a lot of money to the pubs and hotels of Limerick City and her suburbs.
This writer will do his best to attend. Just for the rugby of course!!!

Cawley Cup should be moved
ONCE upon a time in a land not far away, all was good in Connacht junior rugby circles. The League ran like clockwork, the Junior Cup kicked off in January, and the Cawley Cup was given its rightful mid-season slot, with the final staged on St Patrick’s Day.
St Patrick’s Day was a wonderful day for a rugby final. It gave the competition a focal point.
Those days are now long gone. For many teams the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup was over before anyone got even a small of turkey.
And the Cawley Cup has been pushed out to the end of the season where, to be honest, many people just don’t care any more.
It was a wonderful competition a few years ago when it started first. A genuine bona fide junior competition which was guaranteed not be interfered with by incessant, illogical re-grading of senior players.
But as it’s just a junior competition, it wasn’t worthy, I guess. If they push it out any farther in the season it wont be played till next year.
Come on fixtures committee. Get your act together. Even if it was played before the league started in September/October, it would be better than the nonsense going on at the moment.
I doubt this rant will have much affect, but sure it’s worth a try.