Covid restrictions hit Galway hospitality sector to tune of at least €10 million

The head of Galway’s publicans has claimed that more than €10 million has been lost to the hospitality sector across the county alone – leaving pubs and restaurants as the ‘whipping boy’ for public health messaging.

County Galway Vintners Chairman, Cllr Joe Sheridan, said that the lack of clarity or any clear roadmap for the future was having dire consequences for the industry.

Cllr Sheridan said that the hospitality sector was on a cliff edge, having lost so much income since the beginning of the pandemic.

He was reacting to the Government restrictions that were reintroduced last week, and he believes that the pubs and restaurants are being unfairly targeted.

“We have had extensive meetings with our executives across the country and they all agree that this is another blow to the hospitality sector,” he said.

“We are on a cliff edge and the hospitality sector is being used as a whipping boy to get the message across to the public.

“The restrictions are another kick to our members. Those members are at every crossroads, every village and every town across the county,” he added.

The Dunmore publican said that it was estimated that around €10 million had been lost to the industry alone across County Galway – not including the devastating effect it has had on the city trade.

He said that publicans were not in the business of putting people’s health at risk, but he believed that the restrictions being imposed were punishing for the pubs.

Bars and restaurants must revert to rules in existence prior to October 22 which means that it will be table service only, one metre distancing between tables and a maximum of six adults per table. The requirement for a Covid pass will also be extended to hotel bars and restaurants.

Cllr Sheridan said that Christmas was obviously their peak period when it came to turnover, but this was now in jeopardy.

The owner of Walsh’s Pub in Dunmore said: “We are facing changing rules week by week. Take for example, if someone is running a small public house, the table service alone would require the necessity to hire an additional two staff members.

“That is to ensure that customers get a service, albeit a slower service than normal. This represents an increase of around 40% which we cannot afford.”