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Raleigh's Hibernian Pub preps for a safe St. Patrick's Day celebration

Wednesday marks the second St. Patrick's Day in a row that will come and go without a parade or much celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Posted Updated

By
Lora Lavigne, WRAL Durham reporter,
and
Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — Wednesday marks the second St. Patrick's Day in a row that will come and go without a parade or much celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is among one of the first holidays since North Carolina eased back on coronavirus restrictions, and local restaurant and bar owners are getting creative to bring in business while reducing the spread of COVID-19.

At the Hibernian Pub on Glenwood South in downtown Raleigh, staff are preparing to welcome guests to the restaurant for St. Patrick’s Day with some restrictions. One year ago, they were shutting down the pub for what they thought would only be a couple of weeks.

Wesley Alexander, the general manager, said Hibernian opened online reservations to monitor exactly how many people want to dine in on Wednesday for St. Patrick's Day. According to Alexander, the pub will operate in two separate windows to allow time for additional cleaning.

"Everyone will be seated," Alexander said. "We will absolutely be following every guideline, because I don’t want to have anything set us back. Everybody will be six feet apart. That will be the biggest difference this year. We won’t have lines at the bar."

Alexander said bouncers will be in place to enforce all guidelines. While online reservations will get first priority on Wednesday, the pub will allow walk-ins if their capacity allows for it.

Audra Jenkins, of Benson, was visiting Raleigh's Glenwood South on Wednesday to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

"Last year, we stayed home. We didn't really do anything. We're use to going to parades, taking our son out to celebrations. We weren't able to last year so it's nice to be able to come out this year and eat some good food," Jenkins said.

The N.C. Governor's Highway Safety Patrol is reminding those who decide to go out on St. Patrick's Day to be responsible and not drink and drive. The "Booze It and Loose It" campaign means there will be more law enforcement checkpoints and patrols.

Highway Safety Program Director Mark Ezzell said the campaign will run through the weekend.

"Impaired driving crashes in North Carolina account for roughly one-third of traffic fatalities," Ezzell said.

State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson says people need to mask up and sober up before getting behind the wheel. 

"As our state eases some of our COVID-19 gathering restrictions we do expect people will begin to gather more in restaurants and bars, and today, maybe even gather to drink green beer and hope they have some luck of the Irish," Tilson said. " Nobody is lucky when someone drinks and drives."

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