Death of the Irish pub - recession is driving publicans out of business

Its a good thing for stoppage of brain cell losing trauma.

Vitner's Federation (i.e Intoxication Industry) kicked up a stink when the Government of the day brought in the indoor smoking ban. When reminded that over 5,000 Irish people a year die of smoking related illnesses, they were asked how many deaths they considered acceptable, they were remarkably silent. The dubious correlation of drinking with Irishness so adeptly exploited by the intoxication industry will be no loss to a sober Ireland. Time for us to stumble out of the foggy dew of drunken false cultural consciousness and stop drinking the devil's buttermilk.

Oaklongan!!!! "Is THAT my brother in the photo at the far..." LOL LOL LOL

Pubs are too expensive. Why spend €80 on a night out in Ireland when you can spend 20 a go to a mates house for a party!

The pub trade in Ireland, both North and South is in a bad way. High prices, no smoking, and stringent drink-driving laws are all to blame. I used to play as an entertainer in bars, hotels etc., but fewer and fewer places are bothering to hire entertainers nowadays.

How sad on the closing of pubs. I agree with everyone on your opinions. We have the same thing here in america on very low legal limits,1 drink for women two for men and the smoking bans which in some places include outside too. The only thing that's kept the bars going here during a recession is happy hour 4-7 half priced beer & some cocktails.But for the most part you stay home if you want to drink & get on facebook to socialize.Boring.And be careful what you type!

Simple logic; Government has chosen to outlaw smoking, strict driving laws, and taxing the pubs out of existence. It's not a mystery.

Why should people in any country be forced to pay extra for carryout alcohol in order to protect pubs? The price of a pint in Ireland is unreal. Has been for a long time. Note sure how people have been able to afford the pub. And now the Fine Gael government wants to protect these high prices. Hmm, what does Labour have to say about this?

Tis sad indeed! No one has mentioned the importance of the neighborhood pub as being the social meeting place. In tiny villages around this country, it's the only place people go to meet up with friends for a pint & craic. It's often the way the locals end their day & the only socializing they get. I'm not a smoker, but that's another reason business is down. The people are being legislated to death; a pint & a smoke is what it is. Sin sin!

Dismaying article about legendary, world-renowned Irish pubs. Was thinking about the emigration out of Ireland, among other relevant reasons for the, over time, massive closings of.. Is THAT my brother in the photo at the far upper left. Wondered where he was over Christmas.

Now the important question is is Gartlan's Pub on the Main Street of Kingscourt, Co. Cavan still in business? The roof of Gartlan's Pub is thatched by the way. I had a great evening at Gartlan's Pub with three Irish older second cousins once removed, who are unfortunately no longer living. The lads were disappointed that their younger American cousin could not contribute a song once the lads started singing, after a few pints of the stout porter beverage of course.

The Pub is being regulated and taxed to death. THat's not a phenomena. The probelem according to a reader of the Kerryman is that the gov't couldn't run a duck farm. I thought that was ausing becuase the U.S. government owned and bankrupted a house of ill repute!!

If you think about the absurd amount of legislation required for you to drink a pint in a pub, it's no wonder Pubs are going under. It's a pint. It's not liquid gold. Drop the prices, stop regulating the hell out of people and let them get on with their lives! We have similar issues over in the US. We're paying 5-6 bucks a pint for domestic brews, The markup on a pint is outrageous.

Of course publicans would never consider their profit margins as part of thre problem. Like most in the hospitality business in Ireland they are a very greedy bunch.

Why bring Obama into the article. What was he going to do, insult Ireland by not trying a pint? He is totally immaterial to the efforts to save the Pub. The viability of the pub is a Irish problem.