Support your local in mayo this summer

LOCAL small business owners in the hospitality industry are asking the people of Mayo to 'support your local' and choose a trip to the local pub, restaurant or hotel this summer.

The Support Your Local campaign seeks to highlight the economic contribution that the drinks and hospitality industry makes across the country.

The latest research shows that in Mayo, the drinks and hospitality industry accounts for 430 hotels and pubs, supports over 3,700 jobs, pays €84 million worth of wages, and purchases 4.8m litres worth of milk, which supports local farmers.

“Nothing beats a trip to the local pub,” said Alan Gielty from Gielty's Bar & Restaurant on Achill Island. “Pubs are the hub of the local town, the heart of the local community, a place where people can relax and enjoy the welcome surrounds of friends and neighbours or simply pop in for a quick bite on a Sunday.

“If we are going to preserve that, we need to support our locals, which is why I am delighted to lend my support to this campaign to call on people to ‘support your local'.”

Alan added that pubs are vital for tourists, their 'céad míle fáilte' being famous the world over. “Tourists tell me time and time again that they love having a pint with locals. Fáilte Ireland research shows that a trip to the pub to listen to some music is one of the top ‘to-dos’ for tourists. We as nation should be proud of our world renowned hospitality.” 

Bart Storan, the campaign manager for Support Your Local, said the government needs to show the hospitality sector in the next budget. He said: “Currently, alcohol taxation in the form of excise is uncompetitive and leaves local customers and tourists out of pocket. The price of a pint would be 14% cheaper is we applied German excise rates here.

“Additionally, previous Fáilte Ireland research has found that the price of a pint is a major reason why tourists wouldn’t return. Therefore we call on the government to bring alcohol taxation levels in line with European norms to facilitate Ireland’s hospitality sector. We are also calling on the government to establish a taskforce to support valuable local businesses from the hospitality sector and to work to implement measures to ensure their survival.”

Meanwhile, UK MP Greg Mulholland, founder of the 'Save the Pub' all-party parliamentary group, addressed the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation today (June 30), making the case for a cut in excise duty. He stated that the cut in beer duty in the UK resulted in a considerable boost in consumer confidence, supported domestic craft brewers, and helped restore confidence across the pub sector.

Mr. Storan said: “A cut in excise would be good for jobs, good for consumers and good for the pub sector. The Support Your Local campaign is calling on Irish politicians to champion our pubs by using their influence to drive a cut in alcohol excise.”