Publican has profits to burn after turf-for-drink exchange raises spirits
Locals in the only pub in Keash, outside Ballymote, Co Sligo, got their pints and spirits for a bag of turf on Saturday night. A four- stone bag of good turf sells in the area for about €4.
Patrick Ward, owner of the Fox’s Den, reckoned his night of swapping pints for turf was good business. His pint sells at €3.90, so he had an average profit of 10 cent a drink and he doesn’t have to pay to stock up with fuel to keep his two bar fires burning this winter.
Locals and customers from further afield poured into the pub with hefty bags of turf.
Liam Powell, his wife Jane and his cousin Noel Hannon deserted their own local at Gurteen 8km away so they could drink for a few bags of turf.
“We usually do our drinking in Gurteen but when we heard about this we packed our bags of turf and came for the craic,” said Liam
Jane, as designated driver, was drinking orange, which was paid for with cash, because Liam and Noel wouldn’t spend valued turf on a cheap drink.
“Our house is completely turf- heated,” said Jane. “We go out to the bog in June or July. We turn it, foot it, put it out to dry, stack it and then bring it back home. All the turf was in by August this year.”
Part-time farmer and council employee Tommy Underwood is a Saturday night regular at the Fox’s Den. He was with daughter Nicole and her partner, Sean McEvilly. Their homes are heated with turf, which is cut by machine and then they turn it, stack it, and bring it home.
There was a limit of four bags of turf per customer.
Patrick said the swap idea came from a customer about a year ago. He thought about it and decided to go ahead for one night this year.
“It’s the start of winter and it creates a good buzz with people — a bit of atmosphere and a laugh,” said Patrick. “It’s a pint for a bag, and spirits for the ladies because most of them don’t drink pints.
“It’s good to see people smiling and talking about something different instead of always wondering if the recession is over.
“Of course, there’s also a more serious side to it. Pubs have changed an awful lot in the past 10 years and country pubs especially have a struggle to keep going.
“I’m in business 10 years and I used to have a lot of young people coming in. They’re all gone now.
“Drink-driving is a big issue for rural pubs. I’m very lucky. I have good staff here and they run the customers home if they don’t have a non-drinking driver with them.
“We could run customers home for up to four or five miles. That happens every night. There’s always someone who needs a lift home.”
While Vat on alcohol is 23%, Patrick also sells food and is worried by Finance Minister Michael Noonan’s hints that Vat on the hospitality sector could return from 9% to 13.5% in his budget next month.
“Administrators must some day accept that the rural pub is a large part of the local community life,” said Patrick. “We are in danger of being taxed out of existence.”
