It’s been a long road for publicans.

But after almost seven months of closure, ‘wet pubs’ across Cork will open their doors again today.

While pubs in the capital remain shut while the county is at Level Three on the Government’s Covid-19 risk rating, bars elsewhere are preparing to welcome customers for the first time since March.

At the Castle Inn on South Main Street, run by the O’Donovan family since the 1930s, a raft of changes have been introduced to keep customers safe.

A quick walk through of what the bar will be like from Monday. We are looking forward to welcoming friends again @VFIpubs @CorkVFI @CBA_cork @pure_cork @Eoinmpos @EoinBearla @pjcoogan @NeilRedFM @echolivecork @irishexaminer @oconnellbrian @RTERadio1 @pmessy pic.twitter.com/VBCMAexOcs

— The Castle Inn (@TheCastleInn99) September 18, 2020

With new bathrooms and floors installed, socially distanced tables and hand sanitiser on every table as well as at various points throughout the premises, the bar will be offering table service and carefully limiting entry to prevent overcrowding.

Guests are asked to remain seated at all times during their visit and to wear a mask when they leave their seats to visit the bathroom.

33,000 jobs in jeopardy

As Dublin returns to lockdown for a minimum of three weeks, a new economic report released today shows that 33,000 of the capital’s accommodation and food service jobs, which include jobs in drinks and hospitality businesses like pubs, hotels, and restaurants, could be lost by the end of the year without additional supports from the government.

Will you be visiting a ‘wet pub’ today? 🍻

— Yay Cork (@yaycork) September 21, 2020

The report, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) and carried out by DCU Business School economist Anthony Foley, “Employment in the drinks and hospitality industry: the threat of Covid-19 to jobs and how to minimise it”, shows that the 15-24 age group, which comprises nearly a third of all accommodation and food service employees in Dublin, is particularly exposed and could suffer 10,600 job losses before the end of 2020.

The report suggests that as many as 63% of all accommodation and food services jobs in Ireland, 114,000 in total, which includes jobs in pubs, restaurants, and hotels, could be lost by year’s end without further supports. This includes 36,300 jobs among the 15-24 age group.