A Clare menswear retailer says he's opening his doors to those looking for funeral suits as he doesn't want to add to mourners' isolation during COVID-19 restrictions.
Non-essential retail - which includes clothing stores - remains closed during the current level five restrictions.
Funerals, meanwhile, remain limited to just ten mourners - although that number is set to increase to 25 from next week.
Patrick Bourke, owner of Patrick Bourke menswear in Ennis and Kilrush Co Clare, told Newstalk Breakfast funerals are 'totally different' than normal at the moment.
He said: "Families feel isolated. I wasn’t going to add to that frustration or isolation by refusing to clothe or outfit people for a funeral.
“It’s not as if our doors are wide open... people contact us about an appointment to either buy or hire funeral suits, or clothing for funerals."
Mr Bourke compared his approach to a 'shebeen' - admitting he is breaking the restrictions, but not doing so 'blatantly nor flagrantly'.
He stressed that a strict health & safety approach is being adhered to - including the wearing of face masks and only allowing a maximum of two people in at any one time.
He told Shane: "It’s not as if we’ve had dozens of people every day either. You might have four people in a family today… two tomorrow.
“Yesterday morning, a guy came to the door saying could he have three black ties for his brother’s funeral… I’m not going to turn people like that away.
"If your friend or neighbour comes along to you, you’re not going to turn them away. You can’t do that.”
He added a lot of the work is done after hours, when people quickly need a suit ahead of a funeral.
It comes as senior Government ministers suggest non-essential retail will be allowed to reopen on a phased basis next month.
