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Long lines formed outside the Smyths Toy Superstores in Swords this morning as parents tried to buy gifts amid fears of a possible national shutdown.
Between Halloween, Christmas and birthdays, many parents were anxious to stop shopping for gifts in case of potential delays.
Orla Lynam, a mother of three, was one of those who queued today, though she says it wasn’t a long wait to get in.
“A lot of people were buying in a panic,” he said. “But I was there a week or two ago, and people at that time were coming out with carts full of things.”
Ms. Lynam had originally brought her children there to see what gifts they might like this Christmas.
“They may not have Halloween and all of their birthdays fell during the other lockdown,” he said.
Besides the pressure of time, it is also a question of money. Ms. Lynam works as a music and dance teacher, and has only been back to work for the last three weeks.
“I have three kids, so I have to budget that for Christmas too,” he said. “Now I had the money to do it and I could be out of a job in the next few weeks … so I thought now was the time to go find her.”
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Ann McGettigan and Orla Lynam, both of Raheny, pictured after shopping at Smyth’s toy store at Airside retail park in Swords (Image: Frank McGrath)
Meanwhile, Caroline Larkin and Kari Hannigan were out shopping for their six-year-old son Dara’s birthday, which is approaching later this month.
“If we lock ourselves in for two weeks, that will include his birthday,” Larkin said. “I would not trust that what we asked for would be delivered to us in two weeks.
“For our daughter’s birthday in May, we had ordered a couple of things that did not arrive on time, so for that reason we would like to have them on hand.”
However, he thinks Christmas presents can wait, as there won’t be much public support for a closure that lasts until the holiday season.
“People’s behaviors are very different from April.” she said. “Everyone is much more aware and everyone wears masks when they go shopping.”
The government refused to introduce Level 5 restrictions today, opting instead to bring the rest of the country to Level 3 and more strictly enforce the current rules.
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