Arranmore and Tory Islands, the great outreaches of west Donegal, are to get their first Garda officer since the foundation of the State. For years the islands, infamous for stories about their pub opening hours, were officialdom-free zones with the strong arm of the law stopping at Burtonport.
Now with the appointment of Garda John Gallagher the relaxed drinking laws will be brought into line with the rest of the State.
Garda Gallagher, who is based at Bunbeg Garda station in Donegal, will spend four days on Arranmore, the largest of the two islands, and the remainder on Tory for the duration of the summer.
According to Supt John Manley, of Glenties Garda station, it was not the intention of the Garda to "put people out of pubs".
"The people of the islands are entitled to the Garda service, they're taxpayers," he said. "Tory and Arranmore get a lot of visitors during the summer and this brings its own problems. A Garda presence will be good for the islands."
He said the new garda would be establishing a coastal watch service and liaising with locals to set up community alert schemes.
According to locals, the pubs are indeed closing earlier. Mr Phil Ban Boyle, who owns Phil's Bar on Arranmore, said people would go out earlier in the evenings to compensate. "It's just a matter of getting used to it," he said.