Dr Tony Holohan “absolutely shocked” at “major open air party” in Dublin City Centre

Clara Kelly

The CMO said he saw “enormous crowds” while driving past the City Centre on Saturday evening.

Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan has said he is “absolutely shocked” after what he described as a “major open air party” occurred in Dublin City Centre.

Dr Holohan said he saw “enormous crowds” while driving past the centre to collect someone from work at approximately 8:15 pm on Saturday evening.

The CMO added that the scenes are “what we do not need when we have made so much progress”.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday night the CMO wrote: “Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area.

“Enormous crowds- like a major open air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress.”

Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great George’s St, Exchequer St, South William St area. Enormous crowds- like a major open air party. This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress.

— Dr Tony Holohan (@DrTonyHolohan) May 29, 2021

It comes as the government confirmed the dates for the return of international travel, the return of indoor dining and drinking in pubs and restaurants and the return of crowds to outdoor and sporting events earlier this week.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the dates as part of a gradual further lifting of restrictions on a phased basis throughout the summer months.

However, the Taoiseach did state the easing of the restrictions will be “subject to us continuing to make progress” suppressing Covid-19.

Having seen this, I deleted my earlier tweets. Tony Holohan is right. Dublin city centre is a disaster area. I don't know what instructions the guards have, but I would have thought they should have to break up gatherings like these. pic.twitter.com/ZNA621DHvC

— An Spailpín Fánach (@anspailpin) May 29, 2021

It had previously been announced that from 2 June, hotels and guesthouses would be allowed to reopen, while from 7 June outdoor hospitality would be permitted to return.

Now, cinemas have also been given the green light to reopen their doors on 7 June. For a list of what movies you can expect to see in cinemas, see here.

Indoor service in pubs and restaurants is permitted to return on 5 July, while, as had been speculated, international travel is allowed for non-essential reasons from 19 July.

Sunday morning on Dublin’s South William Street… no words 😔 pic.twitter.com/HvTklScgjx

— Karl Purdy (@KarlPurdy) May 30, 2021

In terms of sport, from 7 June, 100 spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor events, which can be bumped up to 200 in stadiums with a usual capacity of 5,000.

Meanwhile, a larger number of spectators will be allowed to attend several specific sporting events in June and early July as part of the Government’s pilot scheme to trial large events.

From 5 July, a limit of 50 people will be able to attend wedding receptions, rising to 100 on 5 August.

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