Cork city centre was buzzing today as many retailers reopened their shops to the public.
Queues formed outside stores as Covid-19 social-distancing measures limited the number of shoppers at any given time onto the premises.
At Mahers Pure Coffee, Maria Young was busy tidying the window display ahead of reopening at 9.30am.
A family business, Mahers has been selling coffee beans and teas to the public as well as restaurants and hotels for decades.
"It is good to be back. We've been off now going on three months, so it has been strange.
"Very, very strange. Saying that too, the last few weeks it was nice to be at home, but you can't beat your regular day's work, and I think everybody, for the whole family, to get back to some semblance of normality."
"Well, we just now have to have one person at a time in the shop, and we have to wear masks and gloves, if we want to, and we have sanitisers set up throughout the shop, so it will just be a very different type of business for however long it has to be like that."
At nearby Pro Musica on Oliver Plunkett Street, Eileen Madden says she is delighted to be re-opening the family-run music shop.
"There's a great buzz, do y'know, just trying to get to some kind of 'normal normality', whatever it is, y'know.
"Because we've been in and out, doing online sales and telesales and that sort of thing. But there's nothing like opening the door, and meeting everybody, and meeting neighbours, it's just lovely."
Joe Cotter of Household Linens says he was a bit anxious for the last couple of weeks because they didn't know what was going to happen.
His family has been in business on the street for 43 years.
"But the adrenaline is kicking in this morning, so I'm hoping there is a bit of a buzz around the place and people will look forward to coming into town."
"We have a very loyal customer base over the years. A lot of them have been sending us messages of goodwill and hoping things will go well.
"So, passing on the good wishes and hoping everybody will stay safe and observe proper social distancing and everything. We have our hand sanitisers, we have our signs, so looking forward to getting back to normal."
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