CAMPAIGN: John C O'Shea with his mother Joan, sister Brigitte Whelan and her children James and Ellie outside their popular High St bar.

EXCLUSIVE

By Sean Moriarty

A Killarney publican was behind a nationwide social media campaign that highlighted issues being faced by rural pubs who are not allowed open during current COVID-19 restrictions.

Last weekend publicans from all over Kerry and beyond took to social media with their campaign 'Support Not Sympathy' to get their message across.

As of today (Friday) it is 156 days since March 15, they day pubs were told to close. And publicans say their appeal to Government is far from over with further plans to increase the pressure this week - instead of photographing family members or customers outside their pubs - they will now show a sign highlighting the number of days they have been forced to close.

They are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of Government support and action a pubs have been closed since March 15. Those who don't serve food have to remain closed for now while bars that sell a ‘substantial meal’ have been allowed open since June 29.

The Kerry Vintners Association has been particularly vocal on the situation. They wanted to have one voice on social media platforms so set up an online group called 'The Pubs of Kerry' and the new social media campaign was the brainchild of publican John C O’ Shea whose family run the Jack C’s on High St.

The campaign, which quickly spread from Kerry to include pubs in every county, was calling on the Government to offer support to rural pubs. Publicans and their families were photographed outside their closed premises, which was then shared on social platforms and tagged prominent politicians.

It was a direct attack on comments made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last week that he was is “sympathetic” to the difficulties publicans faced.

The campaign was popular on Facebook but gained more traction on Twitter.

“I have experience in running such campaigns,” John C told the Killarney Advertiser. “Some pubs have a Facebook account, some have a Twitter account and some have neither. They sent their photos to me and uploaded them to social media. Twitter is the preferred communication channel of Government. It was a dignified protest but sometime I wonder of the farmers are right – they would have the whole of Dublin city centre blockaded by now.”

He added that publicans can open their bars safely and should be allowed to do so.
"We have spent €12k to €15k preparing our bar – we have the Perspex, we have an outdoor seating area in the lane,” he added. “The only reason we have to stay closed is that we do not do food. We would have to spend another €15k on a proper kitchen and take on more staff. We have never done food. We get a lot of trade from Gaby’s and Bricín across the road. People come to us before or after their meal in the place that does do food.”