Rural pubs forced out of business

IF Noel Dempsey and Gay Byrne are sincere about reducing road deaths, let them deal with the real causes:

* Speed

* Dangerous roads

* Drugs

* Fatigue.

One recent tragic accident claimed the lives of four beautiful young ladies on a bend on the N17 (Ballindine to Milltown) in Galway. This accident happened on this road despite the fact that there had been up to 20 accidents reported to RSA previously.

I abhor drunk driving — there are plenty of laws to eliminate this. Give our gardaí the manpower and the facilities and they will eliminate it.

We must balance the rights of people who drink responsibly against those who harm themselves and others while driving after consuming too much cheap alcohol bought in supermarkets.

It is my first time writing to a newspaper but I find it almost impossible to believe that an “all-party agreement” passed this law. Their perception of rural Ireland is certainly not the rural Ireland I know.

Country people in isolated areas who have traditionally socialised in the village pub are being discriminated against. Some 55 pubs have been forced out of business in Kerry in the past three years. Soon there will be more Irish pubs abroad than at home. In a recent survey of visitors to Ireland the Irish pub came out on top of all attractions.

Soon we will not have these attractions for our visitors because declining business will be the cause of many more closures.

What about the employment these establishments give? Many students work part-time in them to pay for their education, books and college fees.

Michael Kerins

Tralee

Co Kerry