'It's been manic' – Restaurants and bars struggle with avalanche of bookings as €50m expected to be spent this weekend

Danielle Sweeney places Covid-19 distance markers at Taaffes Bar on Shop Street, Galway, before the bar's reopening today. Photo: Ray Ryan

Amy Molloy, Ralph Riegel and Eavan Murray

Irish restaurants and hotels are struggling to cope with an avalanche of festive bookings ahead of their busiest weekend of the year.

Some €50m will be spent on hospitality over the next three days as people look to make the most of Covid-19 restrictions being loosened for the hospitality sector.