A chara, – While a number of valid reasons were put forward for the slow death of Irish pubs (Conor Pope, Pricewatch, January 10th), I was surprised that the article did not mention the dominance of loud, large flatscreen TVs as a contributory factor.
The next time you’re in Dublin city, pop into Grogan’s, Peter’s Pub, the Stag’s Head, the Long Hall, O’Brien’s, Neary’s, Kehoe’s and Mulligan’s and you can witness genuinely great pub atmosphere with the healthy sound of people having a chat.
I am amazed at the number of (generally empty) pubs that continue to allow sociability to be drowned out by broadcasts of Sky News and/or minimal interest sports events. Advice to pub owners interested in survival: switch off the TV sets unless for an important news story or national sports event. Let the conversation flow, and while you’re at it, any chance of a Dublin pub with a real fire as opposed to the sterile gas-effect one? – Is mise,
PÓL O’MORÁIN,
Gort Na Mainistreac,
Cill Easra,
Baile Atha Cliath 5.