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The Good Friday closure controversy or Good Friday Disagreement refers to the 2010 court case which saw publicans in Limerick, Ireland apply to be exempted from the prohibition on selling alcohol on Good Friday of that year. The case came about following the scheduling of a Celtic League rugby union match between Munster and Leinster at Thomond Park in the city on 2 April 2010 which coincided with Good Friday that year. Pubs in Ireland are normally not permitted to open on either Good Friday or Christmas Day.〔 This law, dating from 1927, also originally included Saint Patrick's Day, though that prohibition was later repealed. Drinkers often dodge the law by taking to trains, upon which alcohol is allowed, and having their parties there. In 1910, pubs in Athlone faced a similar dilemma about opening on Saint Patrick's Day but remained closed. The match had sold out by the time the court application took place.〔 It was due to kick off at 20:05 and television rights had already been agreed. Vintners argued that Limerick publicans stood to lose revenue valued at around €6 million or as much as €10 million if they were prevented from opening for business as normal. The State and the Garda Síochána opposed a change.〔〔 It was considered a landmark case even before it had begun,〔〔 and at the end was hailed as an "historic ruling",〔 and a watershed in Church-State relations. The vintners won and pubs were permitted to do business on Good Friday in the Republic of Ireland for the first time since 1927 (though only in Limerick).〔〔〔〔 〕 Commentators such as Ian O'Doherty in the ''Irish Independent'' expressed disappointment that it would still be illegal to sell alcohol in Dublin on the same day. ==Background== Attempts to have the date of the match changed to the day before or the day after Good Friday were unsuccessful. On 9 March 2010, and with no alternative date offered for the match, vintners' representatives, recently resigned Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, and Mayor of Limerick Kevin Kiely were among those to discuss the issue with the Garda Síochána in Limerick. A legal application was determined to be the best solution with "no other option" available.〔 The controversy divided religious groups in Ireland, many of which were concerned with the preservation of the holiness of Good Friday.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Good Friday closure controversy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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