Decimated rural pubs will need grants to survive, says publican

Rural pubs are so decimated that, within 20 years, the Government will have to provide grants for them to open in the summer to cater for tourists, says a Cork publican.

Benny McCabe, who owns six licensed premises in the city, added that businesses within the city are also suffering, as potential customers in the 25-35 age bracket “have gone off the scene” either through emigration or being cash broke.

He spoke out as he received the Cork Business Association quarterly Business of the Year Award for small-to-medium size business.