It has been puzzling many – particular the rugby fraternity – that we in what we like to consider a pluralist and inclusive society are still maintaining the strict Irish stance of closing our licensed premises on Good Friday and thus operating varying degrees of double standards.

Every Christian realises the significance of the day and many – even if the number is diminishing by the year – still observe the day by strict religious devotion. But when the observance is by the few rather than historical multitudes can we as a nation still continue to blank the entire day?

The topic is getting a deep and widening airing because of the upcoming Munster/Leinster Magners League game in Thomond Park, and the hard-pressed hospitality trade are cringing at the loss of most, or more accurately part of, what they reckon will be up to ten million euros to the city, which like all others is under severe cash-flow pressure, and with consequent repercussions for employment.

In the good times there might have been strong case to have fallen on the side of our faith, but not even the clergy, who are suffering from the same financial shortfall, because of falling attendances and the fiscal pressure on parishioners to maintain the generosity they offered in the past, can ignore situations which faith alone cannot cure.

The argument proffered by those who have no interest in the big match is understandably narrow in that it does not take into consideration the income the match will generate, yet those within Thomond Park will be able to drink to their hearts content and given the day will probably remain in the venue for hours of game analysis knowing that to tread beyond will cut short their entertainment.

Religious zeal will not cure our financial problems or endear a fading clerical image to those who have exposed failings in those areas.

It is hardly fair that sports organisations like Thomond Park and Croke Park are able to serve alcohol while those whose livelihoods depend on the trade are told to close up for the day.

Nor does the argument for staying home hold water either, for many, indeed most, may not have the pay-for-view facility so those without tickets, and believe it will be thousands, have no way to view other than to head for a licensed premises upon which they can not tread at the risk of being booked under the act.

Both sides stand indicted with intransigence; the clergy for maintaining an out-of-date stance considering the era we are in, the drop in religious devotion and the change in attitudes and the financial, family and employment circumstances.

Perhaps the clergy, who are under enough pressure and losing face at an unprecedented rate, might have won themselves some kudos by declaring an exemption for the city for the day, or even moving the ceremony earlier, for palatable or not, a local vote between game and church would have only one winner and it would not be the stations.

The church, through a few of its hard-line ministers, tried rather unsuccessfully in the past to prevent GAA games on Sunday mornings considering that it would attract many away from religious obligations, but then that was in a different era and the call fell on deaf ears, even considering the religious core we thought was running through the association.

The rugby administration too might have attempted to solve the problem by moving the game to Saturday, for as professional sportsmen they should be well able to manage a game within seven days. Indeed, the Irish players do not have the pressure of their French counterparts to are expected to play internationals, European competition and a very combative domestic league.

Our lads and admins might consider they would not have a professional game but for the loyalty of the fans, and particularly in Limerick which the Shannonsiders consider the 'home' of the Irish game, and perhaps the 'interested' parties – sport and clergy – might have communicated and reach a conclusion which would have permitted the highly-charged rugby fraternity, and the Limerick publicans to enjoy the respective fruits of an event which may never again collide with so sensitive a church ceremony.

It seems very hypocritical that any section of the community should be able to circumvent the law, and especially sporting bodies, when those who rely on an ailing drink trade for livelihood and indeed their staff, have to watch while any or others can enjoy the fruits of a day so protected by our legislators who have been bullied by the cloth for more years than they would care to admit.

How many will see the church's insistence on a dry Good Friday as a genuine act to facilitate a city which relies on their 'native' game to boost local incomes and possibly stave off redundancies?

Of course another corps will bemoan that our sports is pillared by the drinks trade, and true for them, for without alcohol support sport would have a gargantuan task to make ends meet, what with, as one former Leinster president declared that 'rugby is build on Smithwicks,' while more recent times have given way to Magners and Heineken and of course not forgetting that the GAA too depending on Guinness to see one of our major national championships through the season.

Few Catholics would deny respect for the church, even if in these arduous times, but then none would rebuff any gesture which they might use to garner a respect which for many has evaporated. There is no point in the church holding fast to signs of faith and then refusing to placate an irate following and to deny a city just one day in the sun.

To argue the game would dent stations attendances would be to stretch imagination for there has not been any suggestions that they have been increasing in latter years and certainly not since the revelations.

To continue the ancient practice of closing the pubs in Good Friday (save for the durations of the stations) would be to refuse to accept we have moved on in so many ways and that includes forced religious practice which no longer holds sway with so many of the population for whom Sunday Mass is about the height of observance, but certainly not an entire day which not even the Elder Sister of the Church France or Spain even recognised as a dry day.

I had the unique pleasure of attending the Stations of the Cross in a Brazilian town some years ago and by that I MEAN stations where the Redeemer was celebrated in theatrical style and carried several kilometres to what the locals called Calvary. It was a moving event in which 'actors' vied all year to win roles, yet it did not disrupt the commercial trade for any longer than the ceremony.

And may I say we have nothing to remotely approach that devotion here. If Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness can walk together through one of the most polarised communities beyond Israel and the Palestinians could not the church and a major sporting body, which contributes to handsomely to the economy, not find some common ground and not have the church stand on historical ceremony and try and invoke an image long lost. It may have its cardinals and bishops but perhaps they should spend a few bob on PR.

From what I gather Limerick is not impressed.

- Paul Donaghy