The Irish Times reports that hotels in Limerick will be allowed to open on Good Friday this year for the first time because a major rugby match is being played in the town that day.
Publicans took the matter to the District Court after permission to trade was initially refused.
The Gardaí (police) objected, but the judge ruled in favour of the publicans, agreeing the Magners League match between Limerick and Munster was a “special event”.
That was a sensible decision.
As the judge said, it would have been absurd to have 26,000 people drinking at the venue and then having nowhere to disperse and celebrate or commiserate afterwards.
Franciscan friars have called on devout Catholics to boycott the match.
I doubt they’ll receive much support.
It has always puzzled me how secular Australia shuts down on Good Friday, and to a lesser extent Christmas Day.
I support public holidays on these dates, but believe people should be free to choose what they do.
There isn’t much choice about what to do on Good Friday because nothing is open and nothing happens.
I suspect it won’t be long before the AFL bows to pressure and schedules a game on Good Friday in the future.
I don’t think too many people will object.
