An Irish woman who took over a remote Irish pub in New Zealand at the height of the pandemic has said “business is flying” since restrictions were eased.

Balbriggan local Orla Cummiskey agreed to take over the Currach Irish Pub on Great Barrier Island in February.

Within weeks, the country went into strict lockdown to slow the spread if the virus.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, she said business is now booming as local look to avoid strict quarantine regulations by holidaying at home.

“Irish pubs have a very special kind of magic about them and I remember the first time I walked down the path into this pub, I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It is the real McCoy.”

The Currach Irish Pub on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand

She said the original owners, Kerry Woman Máire Burns and her Kiwi husband Phil Judd “created a bit of magic” with their pub on an island 100km off the New Zealand coast.

“Within a short period of time it became part of the heart of the community here, loved by locals and visitors – both international and other Kiwis,” she said.

She said locals took their six-week lockdown “very seriously” when it was introduced, even though there were no cases on the island.

“We have been very fortunate here and, to be honest, I think New Zealand is probably the envy of the world,” she said.

“We've been very fortunate in the way they have managed to keep COVID-19 away.”

Great Barrier Island in New Zealand. Image: Discover Great Barrier Island

She said the “business is flying” even though many restrictions, including strict self-isolation procedures for anyone arriving into the country, remain in place.

“The reality is you have to play the hand you get so for us, that meant we had to reinvent ourselves as a destination and a business that other New Zealanders wanted to come and see,” she said.

“So, I launched a package around about the end of June and went to the market and said, ‘here is your opportunity New Zealanders to come and visit the special parts of New Zealand.’

“At this point in time we have been inundated with bookings. Our occupancy level for August is the highest level that we have had any month in the last two years.”