Times are tough for Irish publicans, especially those outside the big towns and the tourist areas.
Changing times mean that the pub is no longer at the heart of the community although it is still a major attraction for tourists.
Most publicans consider themselves lucky if they get one good night's trade at the weekend. In a bid to survive, many pubs are more akin to restaurants than the traditional bar of old.
A combination of people having less money to spend and cheap drink in supermarkets means that people are more inclined to drink at home, even if, as in the case of the younger generation, they go to a nightclub afterwards.