Covid-19 impact on pubs: 'It's not nice letting staff go for the second time in a few months'

15% of publicans have accumulated over €50,000 in debt due to Covid

Paul Montgomery of Clancy's Bar & Restaurant Princes Street, Cork.

Half of publicans in Ireland have had to let staff go permanently as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to new research from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI).

The industry body reports almost two-thirds of publicans say they would struggle to find work in other sectors.