Publicans at centre of Tall Ships’ storm

PUBLICANS in Waterford have been criticised by the organisers of the Tall Ships Race and accused of penny-pinching ahead of the €20 million event.

Chief organiser of the event and chairman of the regional airport, Nicky Fewer, said vintners are not paying their fair share into a fund to help finance the event, which will draw 250,000 people to the city between July 6 and 9.

Publicans, meanwhile, say they’re always the first to cough up whenever a major festival takes place. They said they can’t afford to make the contribution sought by the organisers.