Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

'It's nice to be out and about again': Quiet start as retailers open their doors to Christmas shoppers

With just 24 shopping days left, retailers are expecting business to pick up.

SHOPPING STREETS IN Dublin’s City Centre were quiet this morning as retailers opened back up, with just 24 shopping days left before Christmas.

Although there were queues outside some Penneys stores across the country before they opened at around 7am, by 9am there was no one waiting to go into the Henry Street store.

Michelle Hennessy / TheJournal.ie Michelle Hennessy / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

A small number of shoppers were out early to pick up some gifts and maybe a few things for themselves.

“I’m just in to get some Christmas things, we got a few decorations and Christmas jumpers and some PJs for the kids to wear on Christmas eve. I have a lot of my shopping done, we have most of the kids’ presents, we always get their stuff out of the way early so we’re not stressed about it,” one woman said.

Another shopper on Henry Street said she “just wanted to get out of the house”.

“I won’t be staying in long, I’ll pick up a few things and then head home but it’s nice to be out and about again.”

Public health officials yesterday advised people to consider the risks when getting out to do their shopping and this morning at least the message seemed to have got through.

“There are going to be opportunities or circumstances where there is more in the way of crowding, more interaction with people and so on,” Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony said at yesterday’s briefing.

“But one is not compelled to get on a crowded bus, or walk down a crowded street or go into a crowded shop. It’s really important that people begin to recognise these things and begin to take actions themselves.”

Shoppers this morning said they are not expecting a ‘normal’ Christmas, but some were enjoying the hint of festivity in the air.

“I usually love Christmas shopping but it won’t be the same this year will it?” one woman said. “That buzz around town, you won’t really have that as much. It’s still nice to be in the shops and they’re playing the Christmas songs, the staff all seem in really good form as well.”

Across the river on Grafton Street, it was equally quiet as shops prepared to open. Even outside the Brown Thomas department store, there was no queue until just before it opened its doors.

One customer waiting to go into the store said she gets a new tree decoration every year in the Christmas shop and came into the city centre this morning to pick one.

“We’ll be putting up the tree this weekend so I wanted to get in to get it. I thought it would be quiet enough at this time as it’s just opening up and most people are working today – I’m retired,” she said.

“I’ll be in and out since I know what I’m getting in there, just the decoration and some perfume for a gift. If I’d come in and seen big crowds outside on the street here I would have just gone back home to be honest, but I’m glad I can get this done and get it off my ‘to do’ list.”

Staff in the shops said they were “thankful” they were not faced with large numbers of people waiting outside to shop this morning, but they expect it to get busier as the day – and the week – goes on.

“It rained this morning, I’d say that kept people out and maybe a fear of crowds. I’m thankful to be honest. Lunchtime will probably be mad though,” one retail assistant told TheJournal.ie.

‘Not just about getting hair done’

Also reopening today were hairdressers and barbers, with many already almost fully booked for the next two weeks. 

Lisa Eccles, vice president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation said her salon in Kilmainham only has “a couple of slots” left over the next fortnight. 

“That probably would have been the case normally as we’d be rebooking clients in September for their December appointments,” she told TheJournal.ie.

“We’ve extended our opening hours until 8pm Monday to Friday. It’ll be a busy one, but it’s tough because we’re working at 50% capacity because of social distancing. 

I would have had 12 sections, that’s now reduced to six in the main salon with a couple of floating sections on the beauty side that I’ve put in. Compared to last December we’ll probably be looking at 70% of the appointments and we’re only able to do that because of the extra opening hours.

She said customers this morning have been “thrilled” to get back in, with some bringing early Christmas gifts of chocolates or wine for their stylists. 

“We would have some elderly clients who had to cocoon for the best part of a year, they haven’t really had any social outlets and they all said they felt so safe coming here, they’re really happy to be out and it’s not just about getting their hair done, they need that social outlet.

“I think we’ve proven salons can be safe, we haven’t had any outbreaks and that’s a real testament to salons. I think it would be great if that could be taken into consideration and we could open even at Level 4 and only close again if we go to complete lockdown.”

‘Play your part’

The governemnt has asked people to bear in mind the risks as they go about their preparations for the Christmas period. Many businesses have extended their opening hours and public transport capacity has increased to 50%.

Liz Canavan, assistant general secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, yesterday asked customers to “play their part”.

She advised people to support their local retailers and remember they can still shop online and collect their goods or have them delivered.

“If you do go out shopping, wrap up warm in case you have to queue. Try to shop at off-peak times and remember to keep a two-metre distance from other shoppers.

“You must wear your mask in store for your safety and for that of other shoppers and staff. Try to keep your shopping time to a minimum and remember to use the hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the shop.”

The National Transport Authority has also  asked people to bear in mind there may be an increase in private cars on the roads which could cause delays to services. The authority advised intending passengers to allow more time for their journey and asked them to remain respectful towards transport workers.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Hill
    Favourite Joe Hill
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:46 AM

    It is just a shame that the Journal is buying into that sensationalist crap like the trashy tabloids. Unnecessarily panicking the elderly & vulnerable with misleading headlines like this. ‘Country Gripped’ in the headline, followed by ‘May get some snow or sleet’.
    Cop on to yourselves lads.

    555
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
    Favourite Tony Skillington
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:53 AM

    +10

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:24 AM

    I blame Michael Fish with his 1987 gaff, all forecasts since then have erred on the side of caution.

    49
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gis Bayertz
    Favourite Gis Bayertz
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:47 AM

    Exactly, Joe. Right now, Meath is gripped by rain!

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane Alford
    Favourite Jane Alford
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 11:57 AM

    Snow here in Meath. All depends on where you are.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lesley Barclay
    Favourite Lesley Barclay
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:18 AM

    Don’t believe it for a second.
    They use these new warnings too much and have lost their meaning.
    I will believe it when I actually see snow where I live……

    359
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CitizenSmith©
    Favourite CitizenSmith©
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:20 AM

    So we do you listen to the weather forecast then, just stick you head out the window.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
    Favourite Tony Skillington
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:53 AM

    Ohh I don’t know Lesley…there was a report of a snowflake in Longford there yesterday…I’m surprised it didn’t set off a red alert..

    79
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute poisonivy
    Favourite poisonivy
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:05 AM

    I think they prefer to er on the side of caution because if they decided “ah sure it probably won’t snow anyway let’s not issue a warning” and then if the weather did turn bad and people were hurt or worse then you’d all be complaining you weren’t warned. After all all it takes is one patch of black ice on one bad bend on one country road for someone to lose their life. If the warnings make people think and take it a bit easier on the road it might save even just one life and sure that’s the whole point.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:17 AM

    The point is it doesn’t make people take it easier on the roads, all that happens is you step out side in your winter woolies and think “no snow, no ice… forecast wrong AGAIN (sigh)” jump into car and vrooom off you go

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute poisonivy
    Favourite poisonivy
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:30 AM

    I never said it would make everyone take it easier…just the smart ones.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:06 AM

    Smart drivers ha ha ha ha ha ha

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:06 AM

    Ha ha ha ha

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:07 AM

    Ha ha

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vannin
    Favourite Vannin
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:09 AM

    Sorry poison, couldn’t help myself

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Mort
    Favourite Uncle Mort
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 11:16 AM

    Met Eireann are considering doing personalised forecasts for some of the dummies with a little location device for those journal readers who are not sure if they living in any of the following mentioned in the warning ” Connacht, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Donegal, Clare, Kerry and Tipperary.”
    Here’s a handy tip. The photo from the Gardai shows snow in the Dublin Mountains. The photo of Daragh above in thejournal.ie office show no snow. Hope this is of help.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Stafford
    Favourite Mick Stafford
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:53 AM

    I call the dog in first thing in the morning
    - if wet… Raining
    - if dry… Not Raining
    - if white… Snowing
    - if fluffy… Windy
    - if contrary… Hungry

    Simples!

    241
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute monkeysocks
    Favourite monkeysocks
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:03 AM

    Ice ‘grips the nation!’ Are these stories some kind of in-joke?

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute damien
    Favourite damien
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:56 AM

    These weather warnings are just a joke at this stage

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Johnston
    Favourite Mike Johnston
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:32 AM

    Lots of snow here in cavan at the moment.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Techguy.ie
    Favourite Techguy.ie
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:54 AM

    Same here near virginia 3 inches fell overnight and its just started snowing heavy again

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Byrne
    Favourite Martin Byrne
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:31 AM

    It’s hard to believe met eireann weather warnings.I’d belive yer man in Donegal before them.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Kenna
    Favourite Philip Kenna
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:54 AM

    Who ??…Wee Daniel?

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip King
    Favourite Philip King
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:24 AM

    It’s the media not the met

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute thejournaltroll
    Favourite thejournaltroll
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:29 AM

    Wolf! Wolf! Wolf!

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dee M
    Favourite Dee M
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:43 AM

    Felt sorry for my ten year old who was convinced he’d have no school today after the weather man told him it would snow. Think he’s on his fourth Chorus of “let it Snow” thanks mister weather man.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian Bevan
    Favourite Ian Bevan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:45 AM

    Yellow snow warning…..hmmmmm…I have always warned people about that!!

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Redline
    Favourite Ben Redline
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:43 AM

    I’m now convinced Met Eireann forecast the weather by linking their finger and holding it in the air! Every single warning has been wrong so far.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Redline
    Favourite Ben Redline
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:46 AM

    *licking – predictive text designed to make you look stupid. (Certainly achieving it with me)

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jo Mullins
    Favourite Jo Mullins
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:17 AM

    Snow in carrickmacross schools closed

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Josephine Carroll
    Favourite Josephine Carroll
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:46 AM

    Snowing in Dundalk

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:34 AM

    Irish weather unlike countries further south is very difficult to predict.In Spain and Portugal you can forcast 2 weeks ahead with a good chance of being right.Ireland however has so many different variables being at the edge of the Atlantic will always be difficult

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damien Cahill
    Favourite Damien Cahill
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:20 AM

    And it changes to cm instead of inches to make it seem bigger ! I think I’ll try that too ! :)

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Liam Byrne
    Favourite Liam Byrne
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:56 AM

    Snowing on and off in Mullingar, but nothing to write home about.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keith Cahill
    Favourite Keith Cahill
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 10:04 AM

    It’s January, not July, what are people expecting?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cllr Brendan Ferron
    Favourite Cllr Brendan Ferron
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:21 AM

    I would have more faith in a tarot card reader than I would in the Met office, they get it wrong more than they get it right!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:35 AM

    I blame Sinn Fein!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BoringMcKay
    Favourite BoringMcKay
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 7:59 AM

    Snow way?

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Siobhán O'Brien-Murphy
    Favourite Siobhán O'Brien-Murphy
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:27 AM

    Ysee I read this crap and worry I won’t be able to drive from kerry up the country tomorrow .its hardly gonna be like new York,is it?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paulpablo Boland
    Favourite Paulpablo Boland
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:46 AM

    What do these clowns get paid for?? We all should get paid for just doing the lottery….by this reckoning.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eileen Moloney
    Favourite Eileen Moloney
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 8:19 AM

    Very windy in tralee

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute little jim
    Favourite little jim
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:34 AM

    What colour is it?
    Quick, I may need to panic!

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Elaine Ward
    Favourite Elaine Ward
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 11:00 AM

    There should be a set of alerts to deal with our weather obsession. Yellow alert – you’ll hear about it just on weather forecast and from shop workers. Orange alert – you’ll hear about it on facebook, every second article online etc. red alert – your mammy rings you to tell you to leave work early if you have to – rather than drive in blizzards

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Moira Green
    Favourite Moira Green
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Not one flurry this morning in Dublin, though the forecast was saying snow right now at 7am. Got outside, not even wet.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Looney
    Favourite Michael Looney
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 11:02 AM

    Met Eireann muppets again!! Learn how to read the dials you morans!!

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jake Race
    Favourite Jake Race
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 9:05 AM

    Organge. Phew. I was worried about the yellow snow.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 5:06 PM

    Grips it where and it is not July yet lol.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Caroline Broadhurst
    Favourite Caroline Broadhurst
    Report
    Jan 29th 2015, 12:57 PM

    Well they have added Tipperary, what a laugh, a little covering on the Knockmaeldowns and a little more on the Galtees, but nothing drastic, I would be more bothered about the biting wind so!!!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds