Smoky Irish pubs becoming a thing of the past.

[greatauntoftriplets]

Irish smoking ban puts tempers on trial

From Monday prison cells and psychiatric wards will be the only workplaces where you can light up

Angelique Chrisafis, Ireland correspondent
Saturday March 27, 2004
The Guardian

In McClafferty's bar in Letterkenny, under a cloud of smoke, Michael Breen lit something like his 60th John Player of the day and supped his Guinness. But the sight of a five packs a day man like Mr Breen in full puff in the snug will soon be as rare in Ireland as the plastic pub ashtrays which are about to become collectors' items.
At midnight tomorrow the Republic of Ireland becomes the first country in the world to impose a nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace, and it has been called the most calamitous cultural change in the country since the Great Famine of 1847, which claimed more than a million lives and caused millions more to emigrate.

The ban outlaws smoking in every workplace, from pubs and office blocks to nightclubs, fishing boats, company cars, tractors, theatres and even film sets - ending at one stroke the cinematic cliche of the smoky nicotine-stained Irish pub.

From Monday smokers like Mr Breen will have to leave the warmth of the pub and brave some of the worst weather in Europe. Given that it rains horizontally in Donegal, in the extreme north-west corner of Ireland, Mr Breen, a village publican himself, predicts dire consequences. "It'll be murder. I won't go out for one if it's raining or snowing so I hope it's a good summer."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/smoking/Story/0,2763,1179172,00.html

[HuckleB]

1. The gastropub was already pushing some of 'em into history.

gas·tro·pub (gstr-pb) = Gastro meaning "Stomach" used in this context as a prefix and pub (pb) meaning a comfortable place of business where good food & alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed

This gastropub trend has seen young chefs, fresh from their apprenticeships in Europe's classic kitchens, occupy ailing Victorian pubs and breathe new life into them. They have tweaked the interest of even the most jaded punter, by offering the warmth of a local boozer, the suburb quality and presentation of a fine dining establishment and modest prices via low overheads.

[MaineDem]

2. What about the turf fires?

Those babies can get pretty smoky! :D

My friend runs a pub in Kerry and they aren't looking forward to this at ALL.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. If the ventilation is good, turf fires aren't that bad.

I burn turf in my fireplace, along with logs.