After hours of deliberation, the government finally announced its plan to reopen the country in a phased manner starting next week.
These are the important dates to mark in your journal when Ireland is unblocked once again.
December 1st: All counties come out of lockdown after six weeks of Level 5 restrictions on Tuesday. Gyms, movie theaters, hair salons, museums, golf courses, churches and all non-essential retail stores have been given the green light to reopen on this date as part of a modified Level 3.
The 5K rule will also be dropped, but people are advised to stay in their own county, unless they need to travel for essential reasons.
December 4th: The hotels, restaurants and gastronomic pubs with kitchen open their doors next Friday, earlier than originally planned. It comes after weeks of campaigning by the hotel sector for the right to trade. However, pubs without a kitchen can only serve take away drinks.
Customers will be able to stay in restaurants and gastronomic pubs for more than 105 minutes once tables are two meters apart. Groups of up to six will be allowed at each table.
December 11: Northern Ireland is expected to end its two-week circuit breaker lockdown. Non-essential retail stores will be allowed to reopen, but there is still uncertainty surrounding the hospitality sector.
December 12 and 13: History will be made when the all-Ireland senior camouflage and hurling finals take place behind closed doors at Croke Park this weekend. On December 12, the 2020 Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Senior Camo Championship Final will take place. The Joe McDonagh Cup Final and All Ireland Senior Hurling Final will take place on Sunday December 13.
Dec. 18: People will be able to visit family and friends as restrictions on home visits will be lifted for nearly three weeks. While no more than three households can meet, there will be no limit to the number of people you invite. You can invite guests from two other houses to your home. The Government has discouraged hugs, handshakes or any physical contact during visits. Hosts are encouraged to wear a mask if serving food or drink.
People can also travel across the country to visit loved ones, as inter-county travel will now be allowed for non-essential reasons.
Decembre 19th: The All Ireland Soccer Final will take place on a Saturday behind closed doors. It will take a Christmas miracle to stop Dublin from doing six in a row, but in 2020, who knows what could happen.
Dec. 24: Santa is leaving to deliver gifts to the children of Ireland after Foreign Minister Simon Coveney gave him the go-ahead to evade quarantine restrictions for his “essential” work.
December 31: Ireland is saying goodbye to 2020 and, with the hope of a variety of vaccines on the horizon, looks forward to a more prosperous 2021.
January 1st: Taoiseach Micheál Martin said a review of restrictions for religious services and non-essential retail will take place in January.
Jan 6: Inter-county travel may end on this date and restrictions on home visiting may also revert. This will be reviewed in the next few weeks and will depend on the incidence rate over the next several weeks.