Vaccinations are continuing to ramp up. Photo: Darragh Kane

Moving in the right direction

With vaccinations going strong and a signals from the Government sounding a lot more positive of late, Cork businesses may finally be seeing a glimmer of light at the end of the Covid tunnel.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Allen Flynn, CEO and Owner of the Flynn Hotel Collection with includes the Imperial Hotel, said he can now see a path to recovery.

“We are very much in the early stages in a plan of recovery. We've been closed for the last 11 of 15 months but we can see a path to recovery starting now, which is great,” he said.

The Government’s recent announcements suggest a possible June reopening for the hospitality sector and Mr Flynn said bookings are already doing well.

“We're aiming towards a June opening. Based on the conversations that were had last week, we would be very hopeful that we will be back for the summer season. There's no doubt that the Irish staycation market will be phenomenal this year,” he said.

Mr Flynn commended the Government’s “heart beat” grant schemes over the past 13 months but said the sector could not endure another closure.

“It's paramount that this is the last time. We have to try and be future-proof as much as possible. Within the last year we have had to rethink our own business model,” he said.

Also trying to look on the bright side of things was Cyprus Avenue’s Live Music Booker Eoin Aher who said the venue is now working on the assumption of a August or September opening with strict social distancing.

Mr Aher said if the country hits the proposed 80 per cent vaccination by the end of June, he doesn’t see any reason why pubs and venues shouldn’t be able to reopen come September.

“Once we hit a stage where, if there hasn't been a surge from the UK after they've hit their vaccine quotas, I think at that point we will get a definite date here. Things are moving in the right direction,” he said.

Mr Aher said the mood amongst musicians is mixed but that many are optimistic that this time their planned gigs will go ahead later in the year.

“Some artists are optimistic, saying ‘Let’s make these shows happen’. Even if the shows are in December, people have their thickets and are saying ‘I’m going!’.

Vaccination

As of now, vaccination centres at City Hall and Páirc Uí Chaoimh are fully operational for people aged 65-69. The centres have been established as a joint project between the South/South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.

Only people who have received a confirmed appointment from the HSE should attend at the vaccination centres and should bring photo ID. Details regarding the opening of additional South/South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare vaccination centres will be communicated at a later stage.