Good Friday - no alcohol sales

robindch

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

As far as banning the sale of alcohol for a day, I guess on a rethink, it shouldn't be banned. If the scope was to spread to nicotine, msg, caffeine, with separate days for each, then where do you draw the line?

At a single national health-day, when you couldn't buy any of these things. And the telly and the internet were turned off nationally too.

Goduznt Xzst wrote: »

Have you heard about buying alcohol online, 24hrs a day 365.25 days a year

Unless you can transport beer over TCP/IP, then that's feck all use at half nine on good friday evening when the thirst is on you something awful.

Still I suppose there's room for a booze-serving ATM -- an Automatic Tipple Machine?

Dades

robindch wrote: »

At a single national health-day, when you couldn't buy any of these things. And the telly and the internet were turned off nationally too.

HMV and their ilk would love that. Imagine the sales in DVD box-sets the night before...

Malari

robindch wrote: »

At a single national health-day, when you couldn't buy any of these things. And the telly and the internet were turned off nationally too.Unless you can transport beer over TCP/IP, then that's feck all use at half nine on good friday evening when the thirst is on you something awful.

Dades wrote: »

HMV and their ilk would love that. Imagine the sales in DVD box-sets the night before...

I was thinking, imagine the number of babies born 9 months later

Goduznt Xzst

robindch wrote: »

At a single national health-day, when you couldn't buy any of these things. And the telly and the internet were turned off nationally too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yGJGTjV2WE

robindch wrote: »

Unless you can transport beer over TCP/IP, then that's feck all use at half nine on good friday evening when the thirst is on you something awful.

Well we aren't arguing the ability to drink alcohol on Good Friday, as that is already allowed. Rather the ability to buy alcohol, and you can do that all you want online

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

fontanalis

DJ_U4EA wrote: »

Its not even about the alcohol. Its being told, as an adult taxpayer of this country, that I CANNOT buy drink. I have no interest in the church, its traditions or its followers so why in a civilised 21st century country, am I being ordered by law to observe one of its stone age traditions? We need the church completely swept out of state matters and laws and we need it now.

I agree, but Tim has a point. the fact that people can't do without drink and in Donegal people get buses to fermanagh to go drinking.
I think there is potential for an Irish film called The Long Good Friday based on no alcohol being available.

Tomk1

I don't understand the legal Law on this, people say can't the
ROI population do without alcohol for the day, but it's not a ban on alochol, legally you are 100% allowed to drink. The law is a ban on a business operating/trading for that day, ironic called a 'public house'.

Why alcohol not meat? For a christian GF is a meat free day, but you can buy steaks of beef, chicken,fish but not wine. If it's due to so called religious-morals... Why can you buy soft-porn in the shop across from the church?

If it's a so called addiction-test, fine ban eircom from providing broadband for the day. Surely you can do without facebook or youtube and of course BOARDS for the day... Jesus will thank yeah

Paparazzo

Will it be around in a year or 2?

A LEADING church man and staunch Munster fan wants a public debate on the sacred nature of Good Friday as publicans campaign to be allowed to open for business on the holy day.

The vintners are meeting the Limerick city garda chief today to look for special permission to open on the day of the crunch Magners League rugby match on April 2 between Munster and Leinster.

But rector of the Redemptorist Church in Limerick, Fr Adrian Egan, has questioned whether the match should go ahead and believes that there are many people who want Good Friday to remain a special day when restrictions are observed. Fr Egan says he will not even attend the match himself on the day.

"I suspect that a lot of people are saddened by it. Not because of the pubs being shut and the money lost but because something much bigger and more important than any match is being commemorated on that day. It's a day when we focus on the event of the death of Jesus.

"I would like to see our leaders, like our local politicians, reflect on the issue and not just from the position of the pubs and the money lost. It is the one day that is different and that allows us the opportunity to reflect, so it would be a pity to see it being changed without some serious debate."

There are fears that if Limerick pubs are allowed to open on Good Friday that it could spell the end of its traditional treatment as a sacred holiday. Fr Egan also wondered whether all the players were necessarily in favour of having to play on that day.

"I know that Donncha O'Callaghan says his prayers before matches and Ronan O'Gara is a regular church-goer. There is a Scottish international player who won't play on a Sunday -- he would rather forego his place on the team."

Suffering

Fr Egan, who regularly attends games at Thomond Park, also spoke of the day's importance as a means of tapping into personal suffering.

"I remember growing up and Good Friday was always different. There was something emotive about it and it had a sombreness to it. That allows you to tap into and reflect on personal suffering and psychiatrists would argue that it's important to do that."

But yesterday Limerick vintners said they meant no disrespect by opening on Good Friday. They have joined forces with local politicians to call for a special licensing exemption because the day is expected to be worth up to €5m to the local economy.

Publican and owner of South's bar, David Hickey, said: "Nobody really wants to open on Good Friday but this is a special sports event. It's really not about the money, it's about the craic and showcasing Limerick. If the hotels and clubs can open, then why can't we?"

If gardai deem the match a special event then the vintners are this week expected to apply to Limerick District Court for an exemption to the licensing laws.

- Aine de Paor and Pat Flynn

Irish Independent

LOL at the bit in bold!

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-saddened--by-vintners-bid-for-holy-day-opening-2092428.html

mehfesto

Quick Qn:
are there collection baskets baskets passed around on GF masses?
Might everyone being in the pub affect a day that woul be a bigger money earner than any normal Sunday?

I'm ignorant to this, not having a go, just genuinely wondering aloud!

Coriolanus

It's all a sham anyway, the Church doesn't even follow it's own rules.

If Paddys day falls on a Good Friday in the States, the local bishop can dispose of the restriction on eating meat so that the IrishAmericans can eat their corned beef.

If lifting the restriction when pragmatic is good enough for the Catholic Hierarchy, it should be good enough for the Irish State.

aidan24326

fontanalis wrote: »

I agree, but Tim has a point. the fact that people can't do without drink and in Donegal people get buses to fermanagh to go drinking.
I think there is potential for an Irish film called The Long Good Friday based on no alcohol being available.

It's ironic that having a day where the pubs aren't allowed to open only seems to encourage people to drink even more. People will drink at home, have parties, get tanked on the gallons of beer they bought from the off-license the previous evening, whereas if Good Friday were a normal day some of them mightn't be drinking at all.

Aside from that, the real issue is one of a national law being based solely on religion and nothing else. Let the practising Catholics observe Good Friday as much as they wish, but leave the rest of us alone to go about our lives as normal, including going for a pint if we so choose.

fitz0

But rector of the Redemptorist Church in Limerick, Fr Adrian Egan, has questioned whether the match should go ahead and believes that there are many people who want Good Friday to remain a special day when restrictions are observed. Fr Egan says he will not even attend the match himself on the day.

Well why can't they observe their religious restrictions while the rest of us don't. Theres no reason we should have to follow their silly rules just because they wouldn't if they weren't forced to.

I make a point of having at least one drink on so-called "Good" Friday. Not for any particular sticking it to religion reason. Purely because I shouldn't be stopped from doing something, in this case buying alcohol, just because of Catholicism. I don't even drink that often normally, it just annoys me that I'm told I can't because some lad died 2000 years ago in a desert halfway across the world.

Rookster

What has alcohol got to do with enjoying sport?

Dades

Rookster wrote: »

What has alcohol got to do with enjoying sport?

I take it you've never been near Croke Park / Lansdowne Road on a matchday?

Galvasean

fitz0 wrote: »

it just annoys me that I'm told I can't because some lad died 2000 years ago in a desert halfway across the world.

Its not that big a deal anyway. It's not like he stayed dead very long.

planetX

Surely all real catholics will abstain anyway - so why the law? Is it not insulting to be treated like children that have no selfcontrol? oh wait, it's catholicism.
It's disgusting that this continues to be imposed on the rest of us.

Bottle_of_Smoke

Its a catch 22 situation

In principle I think its wrong we can't buy alcohol for a religious reason.

In reality good friday sessions are always great craic, and the (probably as they're Arabs) Muslims in the local centra always sell us wine on the sly!

Its a bit like in Northern Ireland they don't have an Irish language act. sounds bad and opressive but in reality more people there speak fluent Irish to make a point.

Ginger Nut

planetX wrote: »

Surely all real catholics will abstain anyway - so why the law? Is it not insulting to be treated like children that have no selfcontrol? oh wait, it's catholicism.
It's disgusting that this continues to be imposed on the rest of us.

Its like all the so called laws in this country. Why cant we make up our own mind like the grown ups we are supposed to be. Let the pubs open if they want if not let them shut. The only objection I have to this objection I have to this complaint at this time is that its only raised because there is a Rugby match on. Nobody complaines on Christmas day - maybe because there are no sporting events on that day!!!

mehfesto

The only good argument if heard for keeping it I that it's one of two days a year bar owners can take off. And even then it wouldn't be compulsory opening and I'm sure barmen get summer holidays!

Still, I'm gonna have the biggest burger on Good Friday. With extra bacon.

Rookster

Dades wrote: »

I take it you've never been near Croke Park / Lansdowne Road on a matchday?[/

QUOTE]

Actually I get there quite a lot. However I can enjoy a match without alcohol.I don't tend to bend to peer pressure. If the pubs are closed, so what. It is the match I am interested in.

Noffles

Charlie Church can **** off... stupid bloody religion!!

ColmDawson

What has alcohol got to do with enjoying sport?

What has parmesan got to do with enjoying a pasta-based meal?

Rookster

ColmDawson wrote: »

What has alcohol got to do with enjoying sport?

What has parmesan got to do with enjoying a pasta-based mea

You sound like a true sports fan!!!!!!!!

Galvasean

Didn't Aprés Match have a line about, "Well having a few pints with da match is part of MY religion!"?
I think it was in relation to the Ireland football match away to Iran, where the Iranian government were kind enough to sell alcohol to the Irish fans in designated zones.
So there you have it. The Irish government could learn a lot from the Iranian one. Never thought I'd say that.

robindch

Galvasean wrote: »

[...] the Iranian government were kind enough to sell alcohol to the Irish fans in designated zones. So there you have it. The Irish government could learn a lot from the Iranian one. Never thought I'd say that.

Must have been around ten years ago that match, but I vaguely remember that the Iranians also wanted to stop Irish women from seeing the match, but relented and let them in; then had to deal with lots of Iranian women wanting to see it, but were worried that the Iranian women would hear Iranian men (and Irish everybody) swearing, so had to get the supporters and the IFA to promise that nobody would use any four-lettery. Etc, etc, etc.

Now, that's my memory, but I don't know how much of that is apres-match )

ColmDawson

Rookster wrote: »

You sound like a true sports fan!!!!!!!!

Or I sound like someone who understands the concept of augmenting an already-enjoyable event with a couple of beers.

Tomk1

:rolleyes:

Moyross monks consider prayerful protest if Munster match goes ahead on Good Friday
Published Date: 12 March 2010 By Luke Holmes

A RELIGIOUS order in Limerick is considering having a "prayerful witness" outside Thomond Park this Good Friday if the match between Munster and Leinster goes ahead as scheduled.
The monks in Moyross confirmed this Thursday they are considering having a prayer session outside the ground on the day.

"We have not decided on any real plans. We always do prayers on Good Friday, but this year we are considering doing them outside Thomond Park," said Brother Shawn O'Connor.

Local man Patrick McCarthy, who previously ran in the city elections says he is planning to bring a crucifix up to Thomond Park on the day of the match to highlight that "Ireland is becoming a pagan country".
He has also hinted that the Franciscan Friars will be involved in the 'protest' though "plans have not been fully confirmed yet".

"When people are sick in hospital they will pray to the Lord above and not some sports players," says Mr McCarthy.

"A lot of people feel very strongly about this and believe that sports should not be put before religion. If people are attending the match and they are all themselves Christians, then I will be telling them that they are nothing but hypocrites."added Mr McCarthy.

Last week the Franciscan Friars warned rugby fans they would be "compromising their faith" by watching Munster v Leinster on Good Friday.

"If they consider themselves a Catholic they should think very deeply about what they're going to do. It's indicative of who you put your trust in. They should step back and really consider what they believe," he added.

"This is proof that religion has been put aside and we have really lost something; it's really tragic." says Brother O'Connor.

Mr McCarthy also added that if pubs do indeed open on Good Friday that he will protest outside some Limerick City pubs also.

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/Moyross-monks-consider-prayerful-protest.6147374.jp

Do I need to comment, but I will say:
"A lot of people feel very strongly about this and believe that religion should not be put before sports and the FAKE-SECULAR state that we claim to be"
We live in a Christlamic state with Christlamic Law I tell yeah.

robindch

This is not, it seems, the first time that Brother Zig and Father Zag have threatened to pray the city into submission. Apparently they hung around a family planning clinic a couple of years ago for reasons which this article does not make clear:

http://bocktherobber.com/2008/04/limerick-monks-protest

If I were going to the match that friday, I'd get myself and as many friends as possible to dress up in gray habits and join them in a few solemn rugby choruses.

Tomk1

Any Rugby matches for the next christian-only holy Friday

Once again this year I'm torn in two... on the one hand it's "it's one day, you can't do without a drink or stock up for one day?" - on the other, it should be free choice for people whether they want to or not

Count Duckula

As an outsider looking in, I must admit I find this is a very strange situation. I suppose I've always grown up being told that Ireland is a Catholic country full of Catholics, so it doesn't surprise me to see that this ban on alcohol is the case. However, whilst I can appreciate that it's highly annoying if you're not a Catholic, surely it has to be accepted that most of your fellow citizens are Catholics, and the majority rules. It always has and it always will.

Over here in the UK, for example, we've an enforced day off for the royal wedding, even if (like me) you don't give two hoots about the monarchy. The majority do, however, so I have to lose a day of holiday because of it.

But at its most basic - it's only one day.

Count Duckula

Count Duckula wrote: »

As an outsider looking in, I must admit I find this is a very strange situation. I suppose I've always grown up being told that Ireland is a Catholic country full of Catholics, so it doesn't surprise me to see that this ban on alcohol is the case. However, whilst I can appreciate that it's highly annoying if you're not a Catholic, surely it has to be accepted that most of your fellow citizens are Catholics, and the majority rules. It always has and it always will.

Over here in the UK, for example, we've an enforced day off for the royal wedding, even if (like me) you don't give two hoots about the monarchy. The majority do, however, so I have to lose a day of holiday because of it.

But at its most basic - it's only one day.

Well we'll see in the next census if they really are mostly catholic :pac:

As for the royal wedding day off, my exam got booted up two weeks earlier than it would have been thanks to that wedding :mad::mad:

Dave!

Count Duckula wrote: »

However, whilst I can appreciate that it's highly annoying if you're not a Catholic, surely it has to be accepted that most of your fellow citizens are Catholics, and the majority rules. It always has and it always will.

That's not the way things should be. Society shouldn't be organised to appease the majority, regardless of what their beliefs are. I mean, if the majority think that black people have no souls, that doesn't make it okay for the government to bring in racist laws against them. Something is either right or it's not, regardless of what the mob think.

If Catholics don't want to drink alcohol, then they don't have to. It's not right that they should be able to legally prevent non-Catholics from buying it too purely on the basis of religious thinking that others do not subscribe to.

faceman

Why is there an assumption that all Catholics support the alcohol ban because they're Catholics?

Dave!

I don't think most Catholics support it at all

Count Duckula

Dave! wrote: »

That's not the way things should be. Society shouldn't be organised to appease the majority, regardless of what their beliefs are. I mean, if the majority think that black people have no souls, that doesn't make it okay for the government to bring in racist laws against them. Something is either right or it's not, regardless of what the mob think.

If Catholics don't want to drink alcohol, then they don't have to. It's not right that they should be able to legally prevent non-Catholics from buying it too purely on the basis of religious thinking that others do not subscribe to.

Are you seriously comparing racist and discriminatory laws to ones that prevent you buying alcohol for one day?

old hippy

We used to stock up the night before and have a big party on the day. Also, there were plenty of places selling booze if you knew where to look...

Dave!

Count Duckula wrote: »

Are you seriously comparing racist and discriminatory laws to ones that prevent you buying alcohol for one day?

In the sense that they're both unjust, yes. Not in the sense that they're both on par.

But then I think you knew that.

The Mad Hatter

old hippy wrote: »

We used to stock up the night before and have a big party on the day. Also, there were plenty of places selling booze if you knew where to look...

Yes, I remember reading somewhere that Holy Thursday is the second-biggest day of the year for off-licence sales, after New Year's Eve.

c_man

Dave! wrote: »

If Catholics don't want to drink alcohol, then they don't have to.

Ohh they're such hypocrites. I know this really devout Catholic dude. He's sound except when the auld religion pops up. So he tells me that it's wrong to drink on Good Friday yet up he goes and chugs down a cup of wine in front of an audience of people! Not just once on the day either, multiple times!
Oh Father Malachy...

Yes, I remember reading somewhere that Holy Thursday is the second-biggest day of the year for off-licence sales, after New Year's Eve.

When I worked in an offy, Holy Thursday was busier than NYE. Regardless they are the two biggest single days for offies.

MrPudding

faceman wrote: »

Why is there an assumption that all Catholics support the alcohol ban because they're Catholics?

Because if you don't then you aren't a proper catholic...?

MrP

ShooterSF

MrPudding wrote: »

Because if you don't then you aren't a proper catholic...?

MrP

I'll get in before the religious but not true! You just don't drink on good Friday to be a cadillac you don't have to want to force it on others.

As an ex-barman I'm torn on this. You should be free to drink 365 days a year but it's also a barman's holiday. The one day a year where all my friends in the trade can meet up, go kick a football around (for charity no less) and then end up in a house drinking and gambling like just about everyone else in the country.

In the end it actually, funnily enough, has created a day for drinking copious amounts of booze with friends.

Galvasean

Count Duckula wrote: »

But at its most basic - it's only one day.

But it's MY day! Days where I don't have to be up the following morning (in other words, drinking opportunities) are few and far between, so when they come along I like to use them should I see fit. I can abstain from drinking whenever I like. I should not be forced to do so on some random day of the year because somebody else's religion prohibits them from doing so.
I didn't sign up for no hokey-pokey 'no meat Wednesday, no drink Friday, weekly cannibalism' religion.

old hippy

ShooterSF wrote: »

As an ex-barman I'm torn on this. You should be free to drink 365 days a year but it's also a barman's holiday. The one day a year where all my friends in the trade can meet up, go kick a football around (for charity no less) and then end up in a house drinking and gambling like just about everyone else in the country.

In the end it actually, funnily enough, has created a day for drinking copious amounts of booze with friends.

But what about the barmen, won't anybody think of the barmen?

Just joshing; this is a good point. Good on ye.

faceman

MrPudding wrote: »

Because if you don't then you aren't a proper catholic...?

MrP

I dont know what a proper catholic is. Tthe religious thingie is about the consumption of alcohol not the sale of it. The law is a different story

Technically Catholics aren't supposed to eat meat on a Friday but that doesn't mean the shops can't sell it.

gbee

Naz_st wrote: »

It could be worse: when I lived over in Atlanta, Georgia, a few years ago, you couldn't buy any alcohol on any Sunday! :eek:

It's not so long ago that here either. Country pubs would close for most of the day, City pubs open for 1&1/2 hours after 12.30pm, open again at 5.00pm and closed at 10pm with no nightclubs

Mongarra

Regardless of the right or (IMO) wrong of it, one does not have to wait until the day before to stock up. The date is well flagged (22nd April this year) so there is plenty of opportunity to purchase beforehand.

Count Duckula

Dave! wrote: »

In the sense that they're both unjust, yes. Not in the sense that they're both on par.

But then I think you knew that.

There's a line of criticism directed towards atheists that they all think they're the most hard done by people on the planet because those nasty religious folk won't leave them alone. When you compare your plight to that of millions of non-whites throughout history (which you did, with a hasty caveat) it's insulting to those who really have suffered.

Next time I get made to stay late by my boss I'll compare my situation to the Interment Camps of the Japanese in wartime America. Sure it's not on par, but they're both as unjust.

You can't buy alcohol for one day. That's a shame. I suppose you're not complaining about the day off though? You can't take the good of religious holidays (numerous days off work) but complain about the bad (not being able to buy alcohol). I expect you'll be whining that you just HAVE to take a day off next Christmas Day, and how awful that is and now you know how the black slaves felt.

Galvasean

Count Duckula wrote: »

There's a line of criticism directed towards atheists that they all think they're the most hard done by people on the planet because those nasty religious folk won't leave them alone. When you compare your plight to that of millions of non-whites throughout history (which you did, with a hasty caveat) it's insulting to those who really have suffered.

Next time I get made to stay late by my boss I'll compare my situation to the Interment Camps of the Japanese in wartime America. Sure it's not on par, but they're both as unjust.

By your logic I could kick you in the nuts first thing every morning, but you'd have no right to complain because hey, at least you aren't a black slave from years gone by right?

jimbling

Count Duckula wrote: »

There's a line of criticism directed towards atheists that they all think they're the most hard done by people on the planet because those nasty religious folk won't leave them alone. When you compare your plight to that of millions of non-whites throughout history (which you did, with a hasty caveat) it's insulting to those who really have suffered.

Next time I get made to stay late by my boss I'll compare my situation to the Interment Camps of the Japanese in wartime America. Sure it's not on par, but they're both as unjust.

You can't buy alcohol for one day. That's a shame. I suppose you're not complaining about the day off though? You can't take the good of religious holidays (numerous days off work) but complain about the bad (not being able to buy alcohol). I expect you'll be whining that you just HAVE to take a day off next Christmas Day, and how awful that is and now you know how the black slaves felt.

There is no words, only :rolleyes: