Fairly Happy Days Are Here Again

Getting there…

t’s a case of slowly, slowly, don’t catch the virus as Monday brought a brand new set of lockdown lifts.

And most of them meant that we all could get back to a little of the footloose and Covid-free life we led before.

Starting today, from Buoys Kitchen to The Beach House, our restaurants, cafés and bars can serve food and drink outdoors, whilst on the entertainment front, cinemas and theatres can reopen, alongside drive-in cinemas and drive-in bingo.

For the town’s own theatre, The Whale, as with every other year, they are waiting for the autumn to welcome audiences and artists back. “We would usually have very few events across the summer months of June, July and August,” explains artistic director Brian O’Regan. “So, over the past few weeks, we have been putting plans in place for a return to lives events from late August/September. We can’t wait…”

The numbers permitted at organised outdoor events can increase to a maximum of 100 for the majority of venues, with a maximum of 200 for outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000.

Also from June 7th, outdoor sports matches can take place again, whilst gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual training only, including swimming lessons.

Outdoor amusements, theme parks and fun fairs are also allowed back off the leash too, whilst up to 25 guests can attend a wedding reception. But only if they’ve actually been invited.

And good news for those still waiting for their Covid jabs – and for the Gemmaroids among us – as unvaccinated households can have visitors from one other unvaccinated household inside their home. Even the War Room.

In the meantime, our roving photographer John McGowan caught a lot of very happy Greystonians soaking up that newfound freedom…

Full John McGowan hi-res gallery – free to download – right here. You can check out the daily Covid-19 figures from April 2020 to today right here.