'Rural pub is dying', warn Meath's vintners

The bleak future prospects for rural pubs in Meath was expected to be discussed at a meeting of the Meath branch of The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) in Navan last night (Tuesday) as publicans throughout the county warn of further job losses and pub closures. Meath's publicans have spoken of the difficulties in keeping their businesses running with rising costs, a huge reduction in customers and difficulties in getting credit from their banks. The proposal for a further reduction in the drink-driving limit has also angered some publicans who warn that this could be the final nail in the coffin of many local hostelries. The Vintners Federation has called for a reduction in VAT and a cut in local authority rates to help save the bar trade. They also called for a ombudsman to monitor the banks in their dealings with small and medium enterprises. The huge fall-off in customers is the biggest problem faciling publicans and, in Oldcastle, Jackie O'Neill of the Fincourt, said that they had taken the decision to close their pub on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights because it is so quiet. "We have a B&B and open during the day to serve food, but our nightime trade during the week was too quiet and we had to take the decision to close. We are even considering closing on a Thursday night, too," she said. "It wouldn't pay us to stay open. We didn't let anyone go, but we haven't replaced any staff that left," she said. Marie O'Connell, whose family have been running Donohue's pub at Woodtown, Drumconrath, for four generations, admits it is a struggle to keep the business going. "Changes in the drink-driving laws, the smoking ban and changing lifestyles have all affected us," she said. She explained that she puts in the hours herself and keeps the pub open from 10.30am to closing time to make the most of any trade there is. "I only have help in for 20 hours per week," she said. She, too, hasn't been replacing staff that have left. She said a number of factors all coming together have been causing the downfall of local pubs. "If they lower the drink-driving limit any further, the older people will not come out at all," she said. She said that high rates and VAT were also causing difficulty for many publicans. Colm Gilcreest of Cormeen, Kells, said that the lack of money and the drink-driving laws were causing people to stay away from rural pubs. His family-run business had been exceptionally quiet in the last six months. Geoff Cooney of Tiernan's in Wilkinstown said the recession had hit publicans particularly hard and increasing rates, unemployment and the smoking ban were all factors hindering trade. The lack of transport to rural pubs was also a major difficulty, particularly in light of the proposed new drink-driving laws and he pointed out that he regularly drove customers home himself. Hilda Colwell of Colwell's pub in Oristown, Kells, said business was bad enough without the alcohol limit being reduced even further. "There are no jobs around here anymore and things are very quiet," she said. Meath VFI spokesman, Seamus Flood, Athboy, warned that the rural pub was dying and had been particularly badly hit by lack of transport. "A poor man coming in for his pension, who just used to go for one pint, now won't even be able to do that," he said.