Parting glass another round in Martin’s pub wars

WHAT is it about Health Minister Micheál Martin and pubs?

The minister’s refusal to back-pedal on his smoking ban earlier this year raised the hackles of publicans nationwide who claimed it damaged their business enormously.

And then his decision to bring his own food to a Limerick pub irked a few more members of the licensed trade.

Now he’s gone and done it again - while on holidays in West Cork.

Apparently, Mr Martin was out cycling with one of his children in the small village of Lislevane near Courtmacsherry this week when the handlebars of his bicycle smashed a pub window.

The politician - renowned for his safe pair of hands and ability to carry out the odd skilful manoeuvre - lost control of his bike.

He was left sporting a red face and a punctured ego, when he walked in to apologise to the owner of Whelton’s pub.

“The man was very embarrassed over it and came in to say he was sorry - and of course he offered to pay for it,” owner Niall Johnson said.

“It was just an accident and I don’t want to make a big deal about it because it was just a small pane of glass,” Mr Johnson added.

Mr Johnson was a bit more understanding than the Limerick publican whose beer garden Mr Martin used for a picnic en route to a Munster hurling match. The minister and his companions were nearly thrown out because the owner took exception to them eating food not bought on the premises.

The West Cork publican was far more forgiving and stressed yesterday he admired Mr Martin and didn’t want to cause him any hassle by having anything published in the media.

When contacted Mr Martin’s spokesman had no comment to make.