Cinemas In Ireland To Shut Under 8 PM Curfew

Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that all hospitality, (including cinemas and theatres) during a televised address will need to close at 8PM until 30^th January. In a battle to prevent the huge rise of infections predicted with the Omicron Covid-19 variant, the rules begin tomorrow.

Fury was already felt with business owners yesterday when the NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) suggested a 5 PM closure. Nightclubs had already been told to close earlier this month, and any cinema visit needed a Covid passport to gain entry which had already had an effect on box office revenue.

As the box office sees a huge spike with the release of Spiderman: No Way Home this is another death blow to the cinemas in Ireland. Some of which may not recover or return. Cinema owners are already having to make tough decisions.

Cinemas in Ireland to close after 8PM

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@grahams_grahams on Twitter, a cinema owner in Ireland stated:

Well here we go again. New restrictions will make it impossible for my cinemas in Gorey and Dungarvan to survive past Jan 6^th and Christmas holiday business will be a struggle. On foot of these difficulties, both will have to close on Jan 7^th until February at the earliest.

With films in the January market, such as Operation Mincemeat already being moved to later in the year amidst the rise in Covid infections and restrictions in Europe, eyes are set on the UK to see if Boris Johnston brings any into effect tomorrow.

December 18^th is the day we are set to see a review of the current ‘restrictions’ set out earlier in the month, and a huge drive to get every adult boosted before January is underway.

What do you make of the news? Is this the right decision? Will you be going to the Cinema if you live in Ireland? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear your views.

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