Budget 2024: 'That’s a lot of bottles of wine to pay the electricity bill'

High Vat and soaring electricity prices continue to bite small firms, such as the MacCurtain Wine Cellar in Cork City 

Sean Gargano said the increasing cost of doing business is becoming harder and harder to operate compared to larger firms in the sector, and the recent budget 'did not do enough for small businesses'. Picture: Larry Cummins

Sean Gargano, owner and resident sommelier of MacCurtain Wine Cellar is “anchored” in Cork and said that, despite this commitment, it feels like the Government often favours larger firms that could uproot at any moment.

Originally from the US, Mr Gargano described himself and his wife Trudy, manager of the MacCurtain Wine Cellar, as “old waiters”, who had been in the hospitality business for years before they decided to open up their wine retail and hospitality venture post-covid on the popular foodie street in Cork City.