Social media helps boost the number of pioneers

Up to 130,000 people in Ireland are currently pioneers.

Now, due to a social media campaign by the Pioneers Association, anecdotal evidence suggests that people under the age of 40 are re-evaluating their drinking habits and numbers becoming pioneers are on the increase.

In the 1960s, at the height of its popularity, the association had a membership of 500,000. Numbers began to fall dramatically from the 1990s onwards, due in part to the numerous scandals within the Catholic Church and alcohol costs.