Where they are coming out of lockdown after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told his people when they could meet again.
While the only faces I see outside of my family back here in Scotland are our new guinea pigs Finlay and Fiachra.
May 18 is the first stage of a five-point road map.
With the phrase which will excite our garrulous Irish friends the most being ‘outdoor meetings between people from different households’
It sounds less of a reward than is first heralded, with myself and my new North Berwick neighbours having had a street party last week.
Don’t call the police, it was just the four of us from either side of the pavement.
If the Irish can hold their breaths (and they’ve been doing well, thus far, even cancelling their St Paddy’s Day parade) then that first hooley will be something.
It’s likely though to be phase five on August 10 before the real craic can start with the key phrase ‘larger social gatherings will be allowed.’
Other key highlights include:
*Opening of public libraries (June 8)
*Small retail offices will be open with social distancing observed (June 8).
*Small social gatherings will be permitted (June 29).
*If you like your museums then you’ll be at the front door of the newly reopened museums and galleries early… and the churches too (July 20).
*Bad news though for the kids of Ireland schools will reopen on August 10. Those who can be dragged away from the hooley.
Just to get you in the mood here’s what Dublin https://www.visitdublin.com, one of Europe’s great cities, has to offer.
And here’s where to stay in Dublin and its hinterland, Co. Wicklow www.visitwicklow.ie.
The InterContinental in Dublin 4, Rugby central, it’s the InterCon… what a Ledge! and Flowerscourt, Powerscourt in the Garden County.
While beyond the Pale there is much to offer too… Monaghan’s country roads.
Now to catch a flight back… www.tourismireland.com and https://www.failteireland.ie.
