By Christopher O’Flaherty
The local bar scene has been drastically affected by COVID-19. Business’ needs to adapt to uncertain circumstances. Christopher O’Flaherty from “TheCity.ie” sat down with Rob and Gar owners of the wishing well Blackrock since 1992, nicknamed “The Well” by locals. Rob and Gar explain what they did to adjust to COVID-19 and how it has affected the Wishing Well. The answer may surprise you!
By Leigha O Reilly Hughes
The government has announced new closing times for nightclubs, pubs and restaurants. From Thursday the 18th of November, they must close at midnight. This is due to the high number of COVID cases the country is experiencing.
It has been less than a month since the curfew of 11:30 was lifted on pubs and restaurants and nightclubs were given the go ahead to open their doors.
Nightclubs were the last to open since the pandemic hit in 2020. They were closed for more than 18 months.
Nightclubs were given specific guidance in order to open back up to the public. Covid passes are mandatory for entrance, face masks are to be worn except for when dancing, drinking or eating, and pre-bought tickets were also needed to gain entry.
These rules were put in place for protective measures to help avoid a surge in cases of Covid-19 cases.
The new restrictions were issued due to the high number of daily Covid-19 cases, as well as the hospital and ICU numbers. On the day the restrictions were announced there were 4,407 new cases confirmed by the Department of Health. There were 614 people in hospital, with 114 of them being in the ICU.
The new restrictions have been a major hit for nightclubs. They were the last in the country to open and are now being forced to close their doors early.
Many nightclubs have taken to social media to announce the restrictions, while also showing how they feel about the situation.
Tramline, a nightclub located on D’Olier Street in Dublin took to Instagram to say “We will keep dancing.”
“We are devastated at today’s government announcement. We have followed every guideline and put every safety measure in place. We have opened our doors and provided purpose to countless staff and artists over the past 3 weeks,” says the Instagram post.
“We are devastated,” says Caoimhe, the creative director and social media manager in Tramline.
“In order to open, we had rules of queue systems, masks enforced in certain areas, tickets sold in advance and Covid isolation areas. This was all a massive change we had to take on as a team,” says Caoimhe.
“With the new restrictions, venues must close at midnight. This halves the shift times for our staff, lessens the experience for customers and limits any real progress we have made.”
Caoimhe also expresses how closing the nightclubs early can be dangerous for those who enjoy nightlife.
“In Tramline we have toilet facilities, security, trained medical staff and access to emergency services. The above cannot be said about the illegal raves and after parties that will now happen. This is where our clubbers will go.”
People have also taken to social media to express how they feel about the new restrictions for nightclubs.
People feel as though the hospitality and arts sector, as well as young people are being left behind by the government once again.
Links to tweets:
With the doom and gloom of the current Covid-19 pandemic, holidays have effectively been cancelled for the foreseeable future. However, when it eventually comes to an end, here are three superb places that should be on your travel bucket list.
1 ACHILL ISLAND, IRELAND
To start things off, Achill Island is a close to home destination and is Ireland’s largest island, situated off the west coast of Mayo. It’s a hub for tourists the world over. Famous for its unspoiled scenery, pristine beaches and rich culture, Achill has something for everyone.
Achill is home to five blue flag beaches, the most well known of which being Keem Bay, which can be found nestled away at the western tip of the island. The clear blue waters of the bay are home to a vast array of fish, basking sharks and dolphins making it the perfect place to go snorkelling in the summer months.
If hiking is more your speed, then you’re in luck. Towering over the Keem Bay are the Croaghaun cliffs, the third highest sea cliffs in Europe. The imposing mountain of Slievemore can be found to the north east of the Island, and is another favourite spot amongst hikers and history buffs alike due to its deserted village situated on its slopes with a megalithic tomb from the Neolithic period alongside of it .
Surfing is another immensely popular pastime for locals and tourists, and the best place to do it is Keel beach in the village of Keel. There are many surf schools which offer both surf lessons and surfboard rentals. This beach stretches three kilometres, so it is perfect for a leisurely stroll if surfing isn’t for you.
The island is also dotted with many cafes, pubs and restaurants serving up hearty dinners, local fresh seafood and perfect pints beside rustic turf-burning open fires. Achill Island contains the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.
Standout memory: Spending the day on Keem Beach relaxing, then spending the night in the Valley House sipping creamy pints of Guinness beside the fire while listening to live music.
2 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
Budapest is a city of two halves. Separated by the river Danube are the districts of Buda and Pest. There’s a saying in the city: “If you’re looking up, you’re in Pest and if you’re looking down, you’re in Buda.” Budapest is the perfect city escape on a budget.
Buda is recognised as the historical old town, full of palaces, castles, and quaint streets. It’s the perfect place to get lost strolling through the streets as you take everything in. The Fisherman’s Bastion is the perfect viewpoint, giving you the perfect view of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Pest. This view is exceptional in the dark of night as the parliament building across the water is lit-up.
For those who want to experience the wilder half of the city, Pest is the place for you. You will be exposed to one of the most vibrant and full-on nightlifes Europe has to offer. It is full to the brim with a wide variety of watering holes from the high-end to the eccentric rune bars which the city is famed for, all serving some locally brewed beer and strong cocktails. There are a multitude of companies offering pub crawls, which can be a fun way to see the city and its bars while also possibly making new friends along the way.
Budapest is also home to many thermal baths, the best known of which is the Szechenyi Baths. These baths are the perfect place to go and chill and recuperate after a hectic night on the town, with saunas, massage parlours and outdoor pools. The baths often host parties which are a must when in this wonderful city. Budapest is a brilliant city break because of its rich history and fantastic options for nightlife.
Standout memory: Experiencing the unique ruin bar Szimpla Kert, a disused hospital turned local market by day and eccentric bar by night really embodies the Budapest vibe with a mixture of new and old.
3 FAVIGNANA, COAST OF SICILY
Last but not least is a place the majority of people outside Italy may never have heard of — the island of Favignana, found off the west coast of Sicily. This undiscovered gem is the perfect place for someone to escape reality, be it for a few days or a few weeks.
Favignana’s immaculate beaches and lagoons are the perfect place to unwind and de-stress whilst sunbathing or swimming in the clear unspoiled waters. There are a few to choose from, with Cala Rossa and Bue Marino being the most popular.
The east of the island is mainly flat, whilst the west of the island is home to a chain of hills, of which Monte Santa Caterina is the highest. There are two main ways of getting around the island, for those who want to take their time and embrace the sights the island has to offer, bicycles are readily available. But, for those who want a faster mode of transport, scooters are the way to go, costing around €20 per day.
Favignana has a rich history as it has seen the likes of the Phoenicians, Arabs and even the Normans passing through at some stage. The marks they left behind can be seen in the small town of Favignana and around the island. Another historic site on the island is the old tuna factory which can be toured for around €6 per person.
Favignana is easily accessible from Trapani by ferry with multiple daily departures costing around €20 return.
Standout memory: Zipping around on a scooter, exploring the island and taking in the breathtaking scenery Favignana has to offer.
As WWE continues producing shows in their Covid-friendly arenas, Takeover 31 was just as impressive. Conn McGillion reviewed all the matches from Takeover 31 for The City.
The first show to run from the Capital Wrestling Center (CWC)- the state of the art arena designed to house fans via live video feed from their own homes. The CWC is NXTs equivalent of Raw and Smackdowns ‘Thunderdome’. This show was not solely dominated by its main event- top to bottom, the show had plenty to offer.
NXT Championship- Finn Balor © defeats Kyle O’Reilly at 28:29- With high expectations for this match already, it is safe to say those expectations were exceeded. O’Reilly- known for his tag team work with Bobby Fish and the Undisputed Era- was thrown into the singles deep end when he earned a title shot against new champion, ‘Prince’ Balor. From the get go, the match was extremely physical- the two men exchanged holds and strikes, battling for control. O’Reilly showed fire early with a series of brutal looking suplexes. However, Balor quickly cut off the challenger with a single spin kick to the stomach. That kick became the focal point of the match- O’Reilly was winded, and couldn’t shake it off enough to mount a considerable offence. Balor worked over O’Reilly with more vicious kicks and scored a few near falls with some tenacious moves, but O’Reilly didn’t stay down. O’Reilly finally came back by targeting Balors leg- and almost defeating the champion when he caught Balor in a kneebar out of nowhere. However, Balors experience eventually came to be O’Reilly’s undoing. A double stomp, and the Coup de Grace eventually finished O’Reilly off.
This was a coming out party for O’Reilly. Balor is an established main eventer, but O’Reilly absolutely shone in his first singles title opportunity. And, these two men beat each other senseless. The chemistry they had was unbelievable, and this match is a must see.
NXT Womens Championship Io Shirai © def Candice LeRae at 16:45- This match was fast paced and aggressive from the get go. Shirais control segments were fantastic, and LeRae’s underhanded antics added even more tension to the match. Eventually, the antics were LeRae’s undoing- as Gargano showed up, and distracted the ref- Shirai put LeRae away with her moonsault.
This match was a brilliant showcase for both women. These two women are perhaps the best in the division at the moment, and they showed that in this classic.
Kushida def Velveteen Dream at 13:00- The story of this match was Dreams constant mocking of the Japanese superstar. The flamboyant Dream enters dressed as Doc Brown- a clear mockery of Kushida’s love for Back of the Future. The first portion of the match follows Kushidas uncontrolled fury. Far more aggressive and intense than usual, Kushida relentlessly targets Dreams arm. Dream eventually regains control by dumping Kushida to the outside, and works over Kushida.
Dream almost gets caught in Kushidas Hoverboard lock early, but he quickly scrambles to the rope. A powerbomb by Dream leads to another nearfall and another Purple Rainmaker connects- but, Dreams arm is too damaged to capitalise. Eventually, the arm becomes Dreams undoing- as Dream scales the top rope, Kushida runs up after him and locks in the Hoverboard lock again. Dream can’t break the hold- even as they drop to the mat, and Dream tries his signature Death Valley Driver. Eventually, Dream taps out- giving Kushida his first marquee win. After the match, Kushida continues to target Dream’s arm, until several refs drag him away.
This was a solid match. The story of it was clear- Kushida wanted to break Dream’s arm. Dreams played his part very well, and Kushida’s aggression is exactly what he needed. Ever since he came to NXT, he had been floating in the midcard- but, finally showing his aggressive streak was what he needed. A huge win over Velveteen Dream could prime Kushida for a title shot soon- perhaps for the Cruiserweight, or North American title.
NXT North American Championship- Damien Priest © def Johnny Gargano at 18:43- I wasn’t a huge fan of this. Priests power and explosiveness is great, but it felt too fast paced considering Priests size. The psychology of Gargano as the villain was a little off- matching Priest in both power and speed. The right man won however, Priest’s North American title reign continues with a huge notch under his belt in Gargano.
NXT Cruiserweight Title- Santos Escobar © def Isiah Scott at 15:19- This match again, was an athletic and flippy spectacle. While not my cup of tea, the two mens talent cannot be denied- Scott is full of charisma and a pleasure to watch, and the back and forth here was smooth and quick paced. Escobar retaining comes as no surprise- he is the biggest villain in the cruiserweight division, and there is no reason for him to lose the title yet.
Overall, this is a show worth seeking out if you enjoy physical wrestling and storytelling. The main event is a must see, and the post match angles certainly add intrigue for what is to come for Kyle O’Reilly and the Undisputed Era.
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