Health

Galway city pubs ‘more than happy’ to carry out Covid passes checks

‘Having to produce a Covid pass doesn’t really affect their night out all that much’

The queue outside the Front Door pub in Galway. Photograph: Mike Finnerty

Mike Finnerty in Galway
Sun Nov 7 2021 - 17:34

“People are pretty chill and compliant when it comes to presenting their passes,” says Sam, a doorman at The Front Door pub in Galway city centre.

The chief medical officer on Saturday called for the public to walk out of pubs and restaurants that were not checking Covid certs. However all establishments visited by The Irish Times in Galway city on Saturday nightwere doing so with ease.

In fact, Sam of the The Front Door says the pub “prides itself” on its Covid compliance.

“Over the last two weeks we’ve only had one guy get a bit aggro with us over checking the Covid passes, but they were very much the exception rather than the rule.”

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Overall, he finds people are supportive of the measures, and said the process is just merely another step to the traditional night out.

“We go up and down the queue to check on people and the buzz and atmosphere is still there, and for them having to produce a Covid pass doesn’t really affect their night out all that much,” he said.

“We might get the odd smart comment or two from someone in the crowd, but we take it with a bit of salt to be honest with you. The system is working out well.”

Outside The King’s Head, the oldest pub in Galway City a member of the staff at the pub says seeing people produce Covid certs gives them hope.

“It shows me exactly how many people are getting vaccinated against this thing, both young and old.” .

“The Covid cert is really handy for us , because it kills the two birds with the one stone. We don’t have to ask for their passport or student ID because their date of birth is on the Covid pass and that speeds up the process for us big time.”

A doorman at traditional music pub Tig Coili dismisses claims that Covid passes are “a form of discrimination”.

“We’ve had a few people travel down from the North over the last few weeks and they’re shocked that we seem to have the situation under control. It’s a free-for-all up there, but when they travel down here, they expect the same rules to apply as back home.”

“We have gotten a bit of aggro for that for sure, you have some lads claiming it’s a form of discrimination or whatever, but the rules are there for a reason” he added.

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