There are Irish pubs all over the world. In Ireland they're in big trouble

It's exactly a year since Ireland slammed to doors shut on its legendary bars and pubs, denying drinkers freshly poured pints of Guinness ahead of St. Patrick's Day. After a tumultuous 12 months of stop-start reopenings, financial woes could mean some of Ireland's biggest draws for tourists will vanish.

(CNN) — Ireland. Close your eyes and picture what you think of when you envision the Emerald Isle. The green. The natural beauty. That distinctive accent. But above all, Ireland is forever associated with its famed hospitality -- the warmth of its people and its pubs. It's a country that prides itself on the slogan "Céad Míle Fáilte," literally meaning "a Hundred Thousand Welcomes." Millions of visitors are welcomed into the country's drinking establishments for a pint every year. But in a time of a third wave of Covid and a prolonged Iockdown in the country, the pandemic has brought the Irish hospitality sector, and in particular, the pub industry, to its knees. Although each bar faces a different set of circumstances and challenges, one thing is very clear. Ireland's iconic watering holes face a deeply uncertain future.