Even publicans are heading North

Date Published: 11-Dec-2008

COUNTY Galway publicans equipped with vans and trailers are crossing the border to avail of cut price booze for sale in their premises.

It has been revealed that there are a growing number of pub owners from Galway who are joining their colleagues in Border counties in the quest for cheap drink.

And it is understood that they are saving up to 40% compared to the prices being charged by their suppliers in this part of the island. A number of publicans from North Galway are making the two hour journey to Enniskillen where they can purchase spirits at a fraction of the price charged by their suppliers.

It has also been claimed that even supermarkets here are selling spirits for less than that charged to publicans leading to a surge in home drinking.

“I know of colleagues in the trade who are bringing trailers, busses and vans to the North and stocking up with drink which they are selling in their pubs”, according to publicans’ spokesman Paul O’Grady.

The Tuam based publican said that he was …