UNLESS YOU’RE A recent arrival to these shores, you’ll be well aware that pubs traditionally close on a Good Friday.

There are, of course, always ways around the ban. If you happen to be taking a train journey, for instance, you can get a drink at station bars. Ditto, if you’re staying in a hotel – and you order a meal.

Surprisingly, a survey of a thousand people carried out by Ignite Research this week found that only one in three of us believe the ban should be lifted, and that bars and off-licences should be allowed open as normal.

Earlier this year – Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald indicated the current situation could change in coming years.

Although she noted that when the public were asked about the issue “they‘ve deeply divided views on it”.

The Minister wasn’t wrong.

TheJournal.ie headed down to the Meath Street area of Dublin back in February, where the stalls and shops were already doing a roaring trade – despite the near-freezing Thursday morning temperatures.

Locals, as you’ll see, weren’t holding back with their opinions…

Note: This video was originally posted on 7 February. 

Read: ‘Everyone needs to get behind Dunnes workers, in the name of common decency’