Ireland will begin to lift lockdown restrictions from Monday, Leo Varadkar confirmed yesterday.
As expected, the country will enter phase one of the 'roadmap' to reopening on May 18.
Mr Varadkar made the hugely anticipated address to the nation from Government Buildings on Friday.
A number of lockdown restrictions will be eased as part of the new phase, and we have put together a list of the 5 main things you will finally be able to do again from Monday:
1. Meeting up with four friends
This is perhaps the biggest change of all. People will finally be able to meet up with as many as four others who don't live in the same household.
However you still have to adhere to the 5km limit, and stick to strict two metre social distancing at all times.
You can also only meet up with others once per day.
2. Visit outdoor shops
Certain shops and retail outlets are also set to reopen on Monday, most of which are primarily outdoors, such as garden centres.
The full list of stores that are allowed to open is as follows:
- hardware stores
- builders merchants and those providing essential supplies and tools for gardening
- farming and agriculture; garden centres and farmers markets
- Opticians/Optometrists/Outlets providing hearing test services, selling hearing aids and appliances
- retailers involved in the sale, supply and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles and related facilities (for example, tyre sales and repairs)
office products and services; electrical, IT and phone sales, repair and maintenance services for home. This does not include homeware stores
3. Play tennis and golf
Sports where social distancing can be practised at all times, such as tennis and golf, are allowed to resume.
Tennis courts and golf courses have been given permission to reopen.
However other team sports where a significant amount of contact is involved will not be allowed to return to training until phase 3.
4. Group exercising
A group of no more than four people are allowed to exercise together.
However as usual, social distancing will need to be maintained at all times, and there must be no contact with other people.
5. Visit outdoor public spaces
A number of outdoor spaces and tourism sites will reopen.
Car parks, beaches and mountain walks that allow people to move around freely and practice social distancing will be opened.
