Monday, May 07, 2007

H€adlines & D€adlines

Closing Time For Many Irish Pubs

Pointing out stories you may have missed. That trademark Irish venue, the country pub - renowned as a place to chat, have a pint, hear some music and soak up the atmosphere - is facing challenging times, reports James Helm, Dublin correspondent for the BBC. He says: `` Pubs are privately run here, rather than being owned by big brewery chains. Many have been passed down through generations of the same family, whose name appears on the front. But recent figures suggest that many rural pubs are shutting their doors, their owners selling up and moving out. One report put the figure at a pub closing every day. In 2005, almost 440 fewer pub licences were issued. In the year up to November 2006, more than 60 pubs shut down in two of the bigger counties - 20 in Clare, 42 in Cork.’’

News source: BBC.

FOOTNOTE: There are some great Irish bloggers and I’d welcome their views – or the views of anyone who enjoys all things Irish.

4 comments:

mcglinch said...

The only thing worse than "a pub with no beer" is a "beer with no pub." sad times indeed.

mcglinch

david mcmahon said...

Hi Big Mac,

Nice Aussie reference there - very well put. I could not agree with you more.

Cheers

David

Anonymous said...

An Irish pub isn't just a pub, it is a shop, where you can go and collect your messages(shopping list), where you can go for a good yarn or where you will hear the best stories and the best music in the world.
Thankfully, they are now smoke free, which for me makes them more bearable to sit in for hours, if one has the desire to do this.
The craic is the best after a few jars!
You are never left alone in Ireland.. it is impossible to be alone, someone will come and blow your aloneness.. because they like to jaw like so many Anglo Indians..and so many stories to tell!

david mcmahon said...

Hi Linda,

Thank you for that wonderful perspective. Your fond description harks back to the role of country pubs here in Oz.

We're also familiar with the word ``craic'' because of the movie by Melbourne-based comedian Jimeoin.

Thank you so much for taking the trouble to share your thoughts.

Do come back when you have time....

David