Saturday was a busy evening in Dublin city centre, though it passed by in a “much more organised and contained” manner to the weeks prior, according to some of the people enjoying outdoor food and drinks on the night.
A month ago, South William Street was the scene of violence and multiple arrests. Social media was flooded with videos of large groups of young people gathering on the street without masks or social distancing, clashing with gardaí and throwing bottles.
However, this weekend had been “fairly chill” according to Matthew Norman (19) who was visiting Dublin for the evening from Meath and having drinks with friends at Boeuf.
“It’s my first time drinking on South William Street. I heard about how it was a few weeks ago and thought it would be a dodgy spot but it’s been grand and there’s a great buzz,” he said. “There is a high Garda presence but I don’t mind. We came in and got a spot in the sun and it’s been great.”
Liz Dunleavy, who was having dinner and a drink with her husband and two friends at Fade Street Social around the corner, said it was her second time out since the reopening.
“The last time we came out it was a bit chaotic with a lot of street drinking. It was all very crazy and disorganised but we’re back now because we heard through friends it was calmer and more organised,” she said.
“There is still a crew going around but there’s a Garda presence and it makes you feel a lot safer and more confident.”
Dunleavy and her group were all fully vaccinated which “took the edge off” socialising, though they were “conscious” of the looming Delta variant.
There was a notable Garda presence throughout South William Street, Drury Street and Temple Bar. Barriers were set up to cordon off each end of South William Street and gardaí instructed drinkers that alcohol could not be taken in or out of the area.
It meant that the vast majority of people on the street were seated at a venue outdoors and the environment was more controlled.
Ali Aherne-Hurley (24) from Cork said there were “people walking around with speakers attached to their shoulders and naggins in their pocket, but you can’t fault them for it”. Overall, she and her group of friends were “just glad to see everything opening”.
Edward Connolly (26) from Wexford said there was “no trouble” but “still a lot to look at”. There were a lot of gardaí around and “two or three herds of kids passing through,” he said.
“We were comparing it to the National Geographic. There were loads of them like antelopes coming up the street. Wherever they go will probably be bedlam.”
Meanwhile, in Temple Bar, groups of young people, many of them underage, were cleared out from the area shortly before 9pm. Rubbish, including food wrappers and broken glass bottles, were left behind.
Two Garda public order unit vehicles, as well as a number of gardaí, continued to patrol the area afterwards, though no arrests were made.
Elsewhere in the city, on Camden and Aungier Street, the atmosphere was relaxed as people enjoyed the evening with food and drinks at outdoor tables.
Back on Fade Street, a keyboard and trumpet duo busked and Celio Soto, a Spanish woman living in Dublin, danced with her friends while others sat on picnic blankets with beer cans, clapping along.
Bar staff at IdleWild across the street said customers had been “patient” and it was “just great to be back”.