DUBLIN, Ireland: Online restaurant websites have been crashing across the country due to an overload of reservation requests since the lifting of Covid restrictions.

A Cork restaurant reported being entirely booked within minutes of the January 21 announcement.

Meanwhile, other restaurants in Cork reported their websites crashed after being overwhelmed by customers within minutes of the announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

In Cork City, Phil Ryan, manager of Isaac's restaurant, said bookings for the restaurant's 8pm sitting were sold out within 20 minutes of the lifting of Covid restrictions, as reported by the Irish Examiner.

Also, Ryan said, online reservations have sold out at the restaurant for the next two weekends.

"The phone was hopping off the hook and it is ringing all day today for tonight," said Ryan.

Ger Devine, manager of Pharmacia in Limerick, said the January 21 end of Covid restrictions has caused a flood of customer.

"We've been busy so far today and we're excepting to be mad for the night. Then we are facing an extremely busy week of student events," Devine told the Irish Examiner.

Jack Costello, manager of The Locke Bar in Limerick, said they were prepared for crowds, noting, "It's been a long two years. So we are delighted that we can be open, without any restrictions."

In Dublin, Daniel Smith, a barman at Grogans pub, described the atmosphere as "brilliant.Obviously it's a great day. It's been a long time coming - this is 22 months in the making now," according to the Irish Examiner.

"To finally get back feels a bit surreal. Plenty of times during the last two years we didn't think we'd ever make this day, so to finally get back there is special."