The news of Tara Mines' apparent imminent closure had few crying into their pints in Navan - the town which some would say was built on zinc - yesterday evening, writes Kitty Holland.
Mr Noel Foley, owner of the Lantern pub on Watergate Street, was strongest in his concern. He described the mine as "very much needed". Significantly, however, he saw the mines' contribution as more social than economic.
"If the mine closes, Navan will become even more of a dormer town, where a good number of those 600 people will have to look for work outside Navan."
Mr Sean Clinton said: "The mine supports a lot of people in this town," commenting that he knew a lot of people working there with "big mortgages". Looking to his three-year-old son, Niall, he agreed he would worry about whether young people would have to move, though he added that "there's a lot of other work in the town".
One of those young people, Robbie Renicks (19), was unperturbed at the news. "What's to worry about? The town is so built-up. It's getting bigger all the time. New shops are opening all the time. Navan would easily survive without Tara".
Even one mine employee, who preferred not to give his name, said he didn't believe the mine would close. "It's all just a threat, again, to try and drive wages down". Furthermore, he said that "even if they do decide not to pay me, I'll just find someone who will."