Dunboyne publican paving the way for an outdoor summer

As we prepare for an 'outdoor summer' one of the first parklets in Meath will open shortly outside Mulvaney's pub in Dunboyne.

Brendan Mulvaney has answered the call from Meath County Council for parklets and two of the parking spaces outside his pub will become a little oasis in Dunboyne where people can sit and eat their lunch, have an icecream, or even have a drink.

Meath County Council will install temporary kerbs along these parking spaces to permit the installation of tables.

The parklet will be open to patrons of the pub and residents of Dunboyne who wish to have lunch in the village in open space.

“It will be available for anyone in the village – people can come and eat their lunch there, they can buy a coffee in the shop and drink it there, or a child can sit and eat their icecream. there.

“It will be great for my business too. I have a small beer garden, but it will be great to have this space out the front as well,” he said. Mr Mulvaney is looking forward to reopening for outdoor service on 7th June.

“We opened for food last summer and before Christmas but we have been closed a long time. It is a long time since Christmas Eve,” he said,

Cllr Damien O'Reilly paid tribute to Mr Mulvaney who was the only one who applied to participate in the scheme in the Ratoath electoral area.

Meanwhile, Cllr Alan Tobin said Ashbourne was ready to embrace outdoor dining.

Cllr Tobin, a County Meath Chamber board member has been working with local businesses in the past number of weeks, encouraging pubs, hotels, restaurants, and cafés to avail of the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme.

“Qualifying businesses can avail of a €4,000 grant to purchase seating, wind breakers, umbrellas, heaters, plant troughs and other items to make the outdoor dining and social experience weatherproof and as comfortable as possible for people supporting the local economy,” he says.

Parklets are on street dining areas where the parking spaces are removed and redesigned to bring the space level with footpath. This hard surface and additional kerbing are pedestrian and mobility friendly and the business owner can then furnish the area, following strict guidelines, to ensure that diners are safe and comfortable.

Councillor Tobin said “this could be the difference between a business being profitable or not. I’m delighted to be involved and will do everything in my power to make this successful - it is Mediterranean style dining in Meath’s sunny south east!

“It is so important that this summer, we afford businesses and the citizens of our towns and villages, the opportunity to return to a sense of normality in a safe setting. Summer is outdoors this year, regardless of weather conditions, so we all have to make the most of this council-led initiative”.

“Expect to see on street dining after the June bank holiday weekend. The grant will be administered by Failte Ireland and Meath County Council and is open now for applications. Details are available on Meath.ie or failteireland.ie.” he said.

These measures will be temporary for the Covid-19 period.