Irish rugby fans can drink on Good Friday

Friday 26 March 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Magners League > Munster

A landmark ruling in Ireland will allow some of the country's pubs to open on Good Friday for the first time, with rugby the reason behind it.

Munster and Leinster will play a key game at Thormond Park on April 2nd, which was traditionally a 'dry day' in the Republic of Ireland, but a Limerick judge ruled on Thursday that the city's 110 pubs can open because of the magnitude of the event.

David Hickey, one of the Limerick pub owners, said that the ruling may set a precedent, pointing out that not allowing the pubs to open during the game would have amounted to an "economic sin" in the area.

"The option should be given to let publicans open if they want to and close if they want to. Today was a huge decision in that direction," he told the Associated Press.

One man who looks unlikely to take part in the Good Friday clash is Leinster's Brian O'Driscoll, who injured a knee in Ireland's Six Nations game against Scotland and may not even be fit for the Heineken Cup match against Clermont Auvergne on April 9th.

Posted by Ben Welch