Early queues at pubs with no beer

Some people queued from 5 a.m. to get into Dublin pubs for Ireland's first World Cup match against Cameroon on Saturday morning. In Limerick, enthusiastic queues were forming at 5.30 a.m. for a 7.30 a.m. match.

The early opening hours were a great success, according to publicans across the State. Under the Intoxicating Liquor Act, pubs may open as early as they wish as long as alcohol is not served until after 10.30 a.m.

The longer opening hours did not result in an increase in public order offences, according to a Garda spokeswoman.

"We weren't notified of any more incidents than normal," she said.

Gardaí had no reason to believe that publicans were flouting the regulations by serving alcohol before 10.30 a.m., she said, adding that gardaí were always monitoring compliance with the licensing laws.

The Submarine Bar in Crumlin sold 1,200 tickets for its World Cup breakfast event. Among those queueing for the breakfast and alcohol-free champagne were late-night revellers returning from night-clubs.

The pub held a ballad session after the match, but even the most enthusiastic supporters had started to drift home at 3 p.m.

Mr Paul O'Grady, Vintners' Federation officer for the west of Ireland, said the morning went very well for publicans in the region.

"In a lot of the cases publicans put up the breakfast free," he said. "And if they didn't, they did once the draw came."

He runs the Sportsman's Inn in Tuam and catered for about 80 people.

Gardaí had reminded publicans in the area to adhere to the licensing laws, and spot checks were carried out during the morning, he said.

Publicans were also warned that public order offences at their premises would be treated very seriously.

But the mood of customers was good-humoured. "I didn't hear of any transgressions," Mr O'Grady said.

In Limerick, Dolan's bar and restaurant catered for more than 1,000 people on Saturday morning.

"We were mobbed," said Ms Aileen Ryan, "but we were prepared for it".

The pub has an early licence and was offering a breakfast and a pint for €7. She said there was a demand for the pints, even at the early hour of 7.30 a.m. "The atmosphere was brilliant, especially with the result."

The pub opened at 6.30 a.m., and by 2 p.m. many supporters had drifted home.

All thoughts are now on the arrangements for Wednesday when the Republic play Germany at 12.30 p.m.