When the Justice Minister spoke earlier this week about her plans to extend the opening hours and to create measures to stimulate the nighttime economy, I was reminded of just how much this would impact Galway in particular, because of its role as a party capital and cultural hub.
The new proposals to reform licensing laws when they emerge sometime in 2022, will see sstaggered and extended closing times for licensed venues, pubs and nightclubs. Sunday trading hours will be brought in line with the rest of the week for pubs and off-licences. Currently during non-Covid periods, pubs are required to close at 11pm on Sundays, while off-licences can sell alcohol until 10pm.
The plans also include the possibility that a new annual nightclub permit will be created to allow nightclubs to open past 2.30am. New categories of alcohol licences for cultural venues like art galleries and theatres are also being mooted. This will bring us in line with other European countries.
While there are some who will feel that increased drinking hours will result in more drinking, there is a school of thought that the absence of a mad rush to finish up and then pour thousands of people on the streets and into fast food outlets at the same time is creating a flashpoint for affray and disorder.
Overall, the moves will create a longer ‘night scene’ for the cities, towns, and villages of Ireland and in doing so, may change the way we have viewed the night-time economy for generations. However, it will also offer us an opportunity to put a new shape on who has possession of the night-time, so that it becomes a more inclusive space, and also creates more jobs and memories.
If you go abroad on your holidays, it is possible to see families enjoying the night-time space in a way that is not obvious in Ireland. Once ten o clock strikes here and in the UK, the streets of our towns and villages are the preserve of the drinkers and clubbers. And to hell with anyone who gets in the way. By avoiding a mad dash to the 2am deadline, it may be possible to create a new ambience in our towns and villages, so that more of us feel a greater sense of ownership of life after dark.
If the past year has taught us anything, it is that anything is possible. That if the will is there, the wherewithal can be found to make it happen.
The shape of our towns and cities will change over the next while, Galway as much as most. New piazzas and public spaces will be created. The plans for Nuns Island, Augustine Hill, the Docks, Crown Square etc, all allow for places of congregation that are sorely missing.
Up to now, our public spaces have been used as arenas for disorder, because they have been allowed to do so. Because we tolerate a level of behaviour after dark that would never be permitted in daylight.
In planning our towns and villages post Covid, we need to look at how everyone gets a chance to enjoy the night-time spaces, and not be afraid of being hassled or assaulted. These should be places where families can congregate, have a coffee or an icecream and not feel that the behaviour in the proximity is something that warrants the shielding of younger eyes.
In Galway, we have a city that is prime in its bounceback-ability from crises such as this. Our nighttime economy is recognised throughout the world. We do it really well.
Now, let’s do it even better, and for more people.
