Normally, Brogue Irish Pub in Mississauga’s Port Credit neighbourhood is bustling on St. Patrick’s Day.

The bar is usually packed with patrons enjoying traditional Irish music, dancing and food during the March celebration. And it's one of the biggest money-spinners of the year, according to co-owner Tommy Donnelly.

But since the order — first by Peel Public Health and then the province — to stop all in-person service at bars and restaurants to help control the spread of COVID-19, the lights were out at Brogues on Tuesday, March 17.

Signs on the door said the pub “would remain closed until further notice.”

Donnelly said that shutting down for St. Patrick’s Day was a “major hit” but was a necessary safety measure in the wake of COVID-19.

“We'll resurrect,” he said. “I firmly believe that we'll resurrect this in April, if all goes well, and we take it from there.”

Charlotte McKerr, who owns Failte Irish Pub, said St. Patrick’s Day is normally packed from open to close at the bar and losing that was “devastating to say the least.”

She said double and triple orders of food and drinks were made prior to the province-wide shutdown, which McKerr hoped would be after St. Patrick’s Day.

“It's a huge impact on us for sure,” she said. “And, I don't know how we'll fare through it all.”

Stopping in-person service at bars and restaurants was one of many sweeping changes seen in Mississauga and across Ontario as health professionals and governments try to control the spread of COVID-19 with social distancing measures.