A Cork pub has taken a strong measure as an anti-lockdown protest is set to descend on the city.
Protesters calling for an end of lockdown restrictions are set to gather in Cork city centre later.
It follows a demonstration in Dublin last weekend which saw chaotic scenes in the capital, 23 arrests and three Garda officers left injured.
Popular Goldbergs Bar in Cork City centre posted on Facebook: "Due to concerns over the organised protests taking place in the city, this Saturday, Goldbergs will remain closed for the day. Reopening Sunday."
The pub were praised on social media for the decision.
One said: "Well done . Cork is now the lowest Covid rates in the country. All at risk now because of this protest."
Another said: "Fair dues, you shoudn't have to."
One man posted: "So we've all done our best to try repress this virus and now the actions of some .. are going to throw us back another couple of months and forcing business that have very little options to open in to closing there doors again."
Locals in Cork are fearing a repeat of the mayhem seen in Dublin ahead of a planned anti-lockdown protest this weekend.
Dublin TD Neale Richmond has already called for the rally to be banned - after the arrest of 23 people and the hospitalisation of several Gardai in the capital.
The event is due to take place on Patrick Street in the city on Saturday.
And Cork City Councillor Damian Boylan has shared his fear that the demonstration could turn violent.
On whether there could be a repeat of the scenes in Dublin, he told the Irish Daily Mirror: "Absolutely, there's no two ways about it, the potential is there."
However while he stopped short of calling for the event to be banned, he said the "vast majority" are "appalled" by it.
Groups who say they are organising the event have continued to circulate social media posts calling for people to "Rally For Truth" on Leeside.
Secretary of The People’s Convention and spokesperson for the event Diarmuid Ó Cadhla said it was not a "protest as such" and that the risk of violence was "infinitesimally small".
He told Newstalk: “We are collaborating with Gardaí here in Cork as well and we have people who are experienced in organising public assembly and we will be vigilant.
“This is a peaceful, family-friendly event on Saturday in Cork at 2pm.”
He added: “It is a public assembly and it is a rally demanding that the Government clarify to us why they are having continued lockdowns 12 months later, when the WHO has said it is only justified in the short term in order for Governments to allow themselves to get into the mode of dealing with the virus – which is going around; we are not virus-deniers.
“We also want the Government to answer why Ireland has had the longest lockdown of any country in Europe – five times longer than Germany – with half a dozen countries in Europe having no lockdown at all and fairing just as well as Ireland is – or as badly as the case might be.”
