Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said he was absolutely shocked at scenes of large crowds gathered in Dublin city centre on Saturday evening.
Dr Holohan tweeted: Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 8.15 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great Georges 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: This is what we do not need when we have made so much progress. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
On Sunday morning the CEO of the HSE Paul Reid warned there are still many risks to be protected against.
Lets not forget, it has been the Irish people, young and old, who have got us to be in a much better place with Covid-19. So many sacrifices have been made. Theres still many risks to be protected against, but lets not loose trust in people doing the right thing, he said on Twitter.
There were thousands of people in Dublin city centre on Saturday night with many pubs serving takeaway pints.
The area around Fade Street, Drury Street and Exchequer Street were packed.
A large number of young people were sitting outside on the streets drinking.
In the adjacent St Stephenss Green, some drinkers kicked a football around while the crowd cheered.
Darren ODriscoll said he was having pints because there is nothing else to do. He has us in lockdown about four years at this stage.
Meanwhile Galway City Council reinstated restrictions at the area known as the Middle Arch – between Wolfe Tone Bridge and Claddagh Quay – at the request of gardaÃ.
People enjoying the fine weather at the Spanish Arch in Galway on Saturday. Photograph: Andy Newman
This measure will provide assistance in relation to social distancing, it said pointing out large crowds had been gathering in recent days.
This temporary closure under Covid-19 restrictions will be in place for a number of weeks, it added.
Asked about the policing of the crowds as depicted by video content on Twitter, An Garda SÃochána said on Sunday morning it does not comment on any third party social media content.
It said a policing operation was put in place by gardaà following reports of a large number of persons congregating at South William Street and adjoining streets in the Dublin 2 area on Saturday evening.
The operation involved gardaà from the public order unit and the dog unit and the crowd was subsequently dispersed. Four persons were arrested for public order offences, it said.
Let’s not forget, it has been the Irish people, young and old, who have got us to be in a much better place with #COVID19. So many sacrifices have been made. There’s still many risks to be protected against, but let’s not loose trust in people doing the right thing. @HSELive
Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin)
May 30, 2021
Drove into Dublin City Centre to collect someone from work at 815 PM. Absolutely shocked at scenes in South Great Georges 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 (@CMOIreland)
May 29, 2021
