The travel agency, which is headquartered in Lisburn and operates offices in Belfast, Bangor, Holywood, Hillsborough and Warrenpoint, confirmed its branches closed early on Wednesday. 

Managing Director Scott McCabe said the move to close all Oasis Travel shops from 12.30pm was a precautionary measure designed to minimise disruption for staff. 

"We got word that there were going to be protests going through the streets and thought it best if we treated each shop the same – so we closed all eight branches early," he told TTG.

"We've got the technology in place so we're all working from home. It was more to do with the possible traffic disruption more than anything, so staff could get home ok."

The decision came after a second night of disorder in Northern Ireland. Protests escalated into violence in Belfast on Tuesday evening, with buildings and vehicles set alight and roads blocked.

The unrest follows a knife attack in north Belfast the previous day, with a man charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed weapon in a public place and making threats to kill.