What do you reckon the chances of me going to Ireland on the 31st are?

[BlueLines81]

Firstly merry Christmas 🎄.

I’m supposed to be going to Ireland for new year (my bf is Irish and he’s gone home for Christmas). I know they’ve already brought in the 8pm hospitality curfew over there but that doesn’t worry me, I don’t really need to get shitfaced, it would be nice just to see my bf and his family.

Everything is so up in the air with talk of lockdowns, on either side. I need to book airport parking and an antigen test if I am going but I’m hesitant to spunk more money if it’s not going to happen.

I’m also moving my horse to a different livery yard at the end of the month, and I’m either going to do that on the 31st if I don’t go or on the 3rd when I’m back if I do go. It’s driving me nuts not being able to confirm for sure with the two yards and trying to rope people in to help me move my stuff.

To add to the fun my bf’s brother tested positive for covid yesterday so that could also throw a spanner in the works if my bf gets it.

Aargh, I hate not being able to plan things!

Just sneak in via the north.

Good lord. What a palaver! Is your bf now a contact? I assume he has been in contact with his brother? Would be much easier for you to stay at home. You will see him soon.
I don't think anyone knows what will happen so if certainty is important you will only get that by deciding not to go.
Don't go through the north fgs.

I did think about going through Belfast, but it would be about a 5 hour drive down to where he is and it seems a bit nuts for a two night visit.

I’m not sure what the rules about isolating there are if you’re a contact, me and bf had covid in September and he’s fully jabbed so fingers crossed he doesn’t get it.

I know I’ll see him soon, but I was looking forward to seeing where he’s from, we’ve been together 18 months and I’ve not been able to go over because of restrictions the whole time. It really looked like this would be the moment, then omricron.

Also Ryanair relieved me of £250 for the flight which I’m sure I’ll never see back regardless of any restrictions, so don’t really want to spend more on flights and then car hire, if I fly to Knock he can pick me up and I won’t need a car.

We have just booked a ferry to ireland for the 28th and I'm not worried. The only reason I would be re-thinking the trip if I was you, would be the close contact issue with your BFs brother.

Other than that, have a great time if you do go. I cant wait to go and see my family

I think I'd be worried about catching it from your bf, then not being able to travel and moving your horse.

I wouldn’t take the chance. I live in Dublin. Cases are sky rocketing. I’ve never known so many people with Covid. So many I know positive and isolating for Christmas - myself included. I think things getting stricter re pubs, shops etc are imminent.

@Allaboutthebooks what are the isolation rules over there? Is it 10 days for being in contact with someone positive even if you’re vaccinated?

Soubds stressful moving a horse the day after a trip anyway. The.BIL with covid would concern me. Can we get covid twice is something I dont want to test. Good luck and hooe you manage to make it.

Hi if you are a close contact over here and boosted you must isolate for 5 days and do an antigen test every 2 days. I'd stay away if I was you.

Tbh OP it sounds like a faff for a short trip, and there are a few imponderables like being stuck there if you catch covid.

Go and enjoy yourself. All i know is people who had covid in the past 6 month have to do nothing not even have to do antigens (if a non house hold close contact ) as per HSE website. Now this was last week so check the site for house hold close contacts and people now recovered from C.
So many have covid its crazy also know so many isolating too and are on insta from their bedrooms. A few friends have it who have kids and they are devastated with having it over christmas and their christmas break now in ruins.Covid is here to stay.dont believe more restrictions coming whenicu and numbers are dropping.
Id come and enjoy yourself and id not sacrifice 250pounds for a non life threatening previously had virus end of.
The terror / fear factor has been unrelenting in Ireland for the past 2 yrs. People are terrified in their own homes now with omicrom. I know this is off topic but i hope its a game changer. Every 3rd person is isolating.the govt. Is going to grind to a halt if they dont cut isolation length and soooon -Its madness .

Omicron is highly transmissible, I wouldn't risk travelling.

How do you stand with work if you have to isolate/be off with covid?

When is BF coming home??

What did you do in the end OP?

@Moomoo75 I didn’t go . His mum also tested positive on the 29th and it just seemed like it wasn’t the right time to go. It would have been a shame to go and not been able to go to his family home and visit his family. So my bf booked a flight to come here on NYE instead but then his brother wanted him to stay longer to help him with some stuff so he didn’t come - all in all a bit of a disaster. I spent NYE at home and was in bed by 11.30pm.

Oh hard luck OP. I hope the horse is comfy and happy in the new stable and that you have a lovely visit in the spring or summer and that the weather is fab for you when you do go (it's shit here now and has been for days if that's any consolation).

Thanks @powershowerforanhour, horse loves her new digs thanks (did that yesterday in the end, it was a very long day, I was really regretting the amount of horse related stuff I own). Yes bf says the weather there has been horrible the last few days, luckily he brought himself what looked like an arctic fisherman’s outfit before he went and it’s come in really handy.