[caption id="attachment_67716" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="The shutters are coming down for many Irish pubs. This to be used only if space permits."]
Ireland may be famous for its pubs but new figures show that one in eight bars in the country have closed in the past six years.
The statistics, from the Revenue Commissioners, show how the recession, rural depopulation, lifestyle changes and the drink-driving offensive by the government have contributed to the demise of over 1,000 pubs since 2005.
The number of closures is expected to accelerate further in the coming months, with even stricter drink-driving limits being introduced and government cuts set to further slash consumer spending.
The records show that the republic had 8,617 pubs in 2005, at the height of the Celtic Tiger boom. However, that number has fallen by 1,108 to just 7,509 this month.
Leitrim has lost almost one-fifth of all its pubs, down from 140 in 2005 to its current 110. In Donegal, 71 pubs have closed down, leaving 369 of the 440 operating a few years ago. In Cork, 211 pubs have served their last orders.
Many publicans in rural areas say their customers are also telling them that the new driving limit of less than one pint of beer is the final straw and that they won't take the chance of being caught.
