Like so many streets and towns in Ireland, a year ago today, the main square of Carlingford, Louth was completely different.
However, unlike the majority of pubs in local villages and locations, the town on the Cooley Peninsula is arguably more popular than any other place in Ireland for people that might fancy a pint.
Simply put, Carlingford is a perfect getaway with a beautiful location that's served by plenty of pubs, hotels and restaurants. It also happens to be an incredibly popular destination for stag and hen parties.
At the heart of it is Ma Bakers, the cosy, warm and friendly pub in the middle of Ireland's busiest drinking spot.
For the past 11 years, Aidan Baker has overseen every detail of the traditional family bar that's famous for its mix of live music, vibrant atmosphere, and traditional Irish design.
Aside from this, it also has a fish and chip shop next door and it's right in the Village centre. Simply put, if you've been to Carlingford you've been to Ma Bakers.
Speaking with the Irish Mirror, Mr Baker says that the most recent lockdown has been the toughest of the lot and when compared to this time last year, the situation is still hard to comprehend.
"It's crazy, from what it was to what it is now. It's madness and head wrecking at the same time. During the first lockdown when we were shut, I was down at the pub every day - scraping, painting, pot washing, tidying up, steaming tiles, and doing touch-ups.
"During the second lockdown, I kept cleaning away but now, I've not as much interest in doing that because I've put my heart and soul into the pub for seven days a week - even when it was closed - and we're just told to close on a whim.
"What's the point when the government are behaving like this? It's heartbreaking and I haven't stepped inside the pub since we were told to close on December 24."
Traditionally, St Patrick's Day and the weekend preceding it is usually one of the busiest periods for the well-known pub but with lockdown restrictions still in place, another lucrative payday has gone amiss.
As owner, barman, handyman and Jack of all trades, like so many publicans, Mr Baker is completely committed to his business, only taking Christmas day off, so to say the last few months have been strange is a massive understatement.
"Prior to lockdown, I never took a single day off because I'm always on the go the whole time but now, I'm trying to keep myself busy in the house.
"I can't drop down a level or switch off, it's not in my nature to do nothing. I've even been chipping in to help out a few other people if they need a bit of shovelling, a wheelbarrow, or some work done.
"I'm doing that just to keep myself going until the pub is back open. So, I'm actually going the whole day still," he said.
Despite telling 10 staff members that they've no work for the foreseeable future, the publican says that all of the staff at Ma Bakers are itching to get back to work and even though the pub is closed, they're still doing their part to help their patrons because they're the people that helped the pub put the most when they were allowed to reopen.
"The staff are all itching to get back to work. They're mad to get back. We have 10 staff in total. We took the pub over 11 years ago this month and I tell you, since lockdown started, I've found that I've had to keep myself going.
"I'm not worried about trade or anything because I know the locals in Carlingford will back us up when we're open. For example, during the first two lockdowns, we were panicking - especially the first one because we'd be missing out on all the hen and stag parties that usually come in here. However, it was the locals that really helped us out because without their support when the lockdown lifted, we wouldn't be open again.
"My phone hasn't stopped ringing from a few of the locals wondering when we'd be opening. I'd also pop around the shops to help them collect a few groceries too for some people.
"We'd always want to look after our regulars who might pop in for a pint and a chat, especially the older ones. See, it's not about drinking for them, it's about socialising and having the craic - that's most important for them. They're our regulars and we want to look after them."
When pubs reopened for the Christmas period, the government chose to ignore Nphet advice by allowing gastro-pubs and restaurants reopen.
However, at present, all wet pubs are closed while bars, cafes and restaurants (including hotel restaurants and bars) can just provide take away food and delivery only.
While some believe that any decision to reopen pubs will lead to a rise in cases, Baker says that the perception that people will get drunk and 'sloppy' thus leading to cases spreading isn't accurate.
In fact, the Ma Bakers owner said that the recent rules for publicans to abide by - when they were opened - has meant that pubs are far more selective about who they allow in.
"You have more chance to pick and choose your clientele. You know, when things were normal, you could get four lads coming in who wanted to spend a fortune just drinking vodka and Red Bull. They could get drunk and messy. Now, I don't want that.
"I want families to come in and have some food, or people coming in with their mates to have the craic and some pints. Right now, it's not about money for me, it's about the pride we take in our business and making sure people enjoy themselves.
"Like, when things were opened a few months ago, I could easily fill that pub with just people at stags and hen parties who were drinking all day and let them spend a fortune, but that's not how we run a business."
Over the years, famous faces like Nathan Carter, Derek Ryan, and snooker player Joe Swail have all frequented the popular pub and aside from the financial loss, Baker misses the sense of fun and craic that defined Ma Bakers.
With access to a barbershop, bike hire, beer garden, burgers and booze on offer, the pub has seen more than its fair share of moments and characters.
"We would have events going six days a week in normal times. Every night there's a buzz with different people and music, it's not like a pub out in the country where you're used to talking to the same people, seven days a week, every night is different. Easter Sunday is usually a really busy day, St Patrick's Day, then we've got all the hens and stags - we miss them all," said Baker.
There's no denying that life in Irish pubs will be markedly different going forward but in terms of feedback from his patrons, Baker says that people are more than happy to abide by the new rules like social distancing, sanitisation and contact tracing.
"I don't spend too much time online but there were some great reviews left on TripAdvisor and stuff. People said they felt very comfortable because we're very strict on Covid measures while also wanting people to feel as relaxed as possible.
"People never felt like they were cramped or rushed here too, which is something I've heard is common enough elsewhere. The most important thing is that bar staff, customers and the Department of Health have all been happy with things when we were open."
With the ability to serve a substantial meal, Ma Bakers was one of the pubs that were allowed to remain open but its owner says that the extra regulations did result in more work for his staff at a time when business was understandably down.
"Business dropped down by about 50% but that period also required double the work too and double the staff. Rather than working solely behind the bar, I was working the front door to do contact tracing, making sure customers sanitised their hands, stopping anyone that just wanted to wander in, seating customers and then taking their order.
Earlier this month, the Taoiseach said "we don’t foresee that [reopening pubs] before the middle of the summer" and in Baker's opinion, the lack of a clear date has been a source of frustration, as was the stop-start-stop approach to reopening pubs at Christmas.
"From my point of view, they shouldn't have closed the pubs before Christmas because if publicans were still open and sorting their patrons out while adhering to social distancing measures, people would be better monitored at a pub than they would be at a house party in the middle of a housing estate. See, nobody can look over that.
"If I get 80 people in my pub, I could space them out with no messing around. The same can't be said for house parties and people drinking in the street. People are also renting houses just for drinking sessions with maybe 10-15 people in houses. They'll all be mixing with no rules in place. You're not getting into my pub unless there's tracing details, the same can't be said for house parties.
"When we were open people were happy to abide by the rules because people were just glad to get a pint. They'd sit there in peace and quiet with it."
