The fall-out from the COVID-19 crisis looks set to present a major economic blow for the town of Mullingar where all pubs, hotels and restaurants have been closed for the past four weeks.
It was confirmed last Friday that another three weeks of lockdown will follow, taking us up to 5 May before any easing of restrictions begin. Even at that stage, there is no definite plan for the reopening of licensed premises in Mullingar and the 24 pubs and hotels are in limbo as owners await the figures in relation to the coronavirus that will ultimately determine everything.
Businesses being shut down presents a major economic challenge, with thousands of euro in takings being lost every weekend and publicans and hoteliers say that the uncertainty surrounding the current crisis leaves them in an impossible situation. Berty Dunne, proprietor of the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar admits that those working in the industry face serious challenges when the lockdown ends.
“The virus has decimated this industry and we will be slow to come back,” he remarked, remaining hopeful that jobs can still be salvaged and most businesses kept open.
Easter weekend is traditionally one of the busiest times of the year for the hospitality sector and Berty Dunne, who has been running the four-star hotel for the past 13 years, has just witnessed his bleakest weekend in the industry.
“This certainly would be one of the busiest weekends of the year for us and we had lots of events booked from Thursday onwards, including weddings, but everything had to be cancelled. It’s a huge blow and the worst thing is the uncertainty of it all,” he told Topic last Friday.
While hotel business is at a standstill, all pubs in the town have also been closed and the outlook is not a promising one. Already the industry has taken massive hits with St Patrick’s Day and Easter cancelled, while the postponement of this year’s All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil represents another body blow for employers and employees. While Mullingar has been confirmed as the location for the 2021 event, restrictions on mass gatherings and social distancing will pose huge obstacles.
Easter weekend would have generated anywhere between €10,000 and €20,000 in takings and the loss of all that revenue is a major blow to the economic life of the town.
Insurance companies are refusing to compensate publicans for losses during the closure, despite the fact that the government imposed a lockdown due the threat of COVID-19. Publicans in Mullingar are concerned at this issue.
COMPENSATION
“We have the VFI (Vintners Federation of Ireland) working hard for us, but we have had no joy from insurance companies and you do wonder why you are paying insurance at all when something like this happens and there’s no compensation. We still have bills to meet at the end of the month, ESB for example, and they won’t be waiting for their money,” said Kieran Smith, proprietor of Smiddy’s Bar, Mullingar.
Rural pubs across Westmeath, estimated to be taking around €3,000 in a good week, are also shut and for these smaller areas the future looks bleak. One rural pub owner confirmed making changes to his premises to allow for social distancing measures will force him out of business.
“It will cost us thousands and there’s no way we can afford it. The regulations will mean the end for a lot of small rural pubs, sadly,” our source said.
As for when normality returns, it’s a guessing game.
“We are hoping that there is some positive news in the next six weeks, but we just don’t know,” remarked Kieran Clarke of Clarke’s Bar.
