Tag Archives: Durty Nelly’s

THE hospitality sector badly needs some positive measures in next week’s budget, according to Maurice Walsh of Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty. He says there is a real danger that come businesses will close if action is not taken. “The sentiment that is out there is that an awful lot of people are hanging on, and if there is no change, they won’t be hanging on for much longer,” he said. VAT in the sector reverting from 9% to 13.5% has caused huge problems, he claimed. “As a business, what we would be looking for, though it seems to be falling on deaf ears, is a reduction in VAT. The thing about VAT is the government increased it by 50% in relation to food, it is bringing in an extra €600 million for the Government, they don’t want to relinquish that,” he said. “There was a suggestion of 11%, rather than 13.5% but that seems to be falling on deaf ears …

Having worked in Clare bars for over 30 years, Maurice Walsh has seen a lot of change in the sector. He has run Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty for the last 16 years, and is very well versed in the challenges facing the pub trade in a county where almost one third of bars have closed permanently since 2005. Pub owners now face a range of high costs, he feels. “Definitely the general running costs have increased with insurance and rates, electricity, oil, even the turf for the fire,” he said. “The labour costs have increased, the suppliers are constantly increasing prices.” It’s no secret that it’s now expensive to go for a pint, and he says the State take a huge share of what customers pay. “The pricing, people say it’s expensive and when you break it down 60% goes to the Government,” he said. It is a difficult sector in which to make plans. “It is frustrating in a …

DURTY Nelly’s has been named the winner of the Best Tourist Pub in the South West Region at the Irish Pub Awards. The Irish Pub Awards are run jointly by the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland. President of the VFI, Paul Moynihan, said: “The Irish Pub Awards is firmly established as the pre-eminent awards in our sector. The awards have helped raise the national profile of our fantastic pubs across the entire country. “The awards showcase the best of the best and I’m delighted that so many great venues are getting the recognition they deserve. “We all know our pubs are a unique part of Irish culture and remain the best place for locals and tourists alike to come together.” Chair of the LVA, Alison Kealy added, “The collaboration between VFI and LVA is core to the success of the Irish Pub Awards. They play a big part in acknowledging the part publicans play in employing …

IT was an evening of nostalgia when the team of the 1970s that appeared in three successive National Hurling League finals gathered in Bunratty on Friday night last. Addressing those assembled, then team manager Fr Harry Bohan noted “those years were significant for Clare hurling and certainly for ourselves; we did sow seeds”. The games, the wins and the losses were all recalled and everyone took time to remember the role played by the late Tom Crowe from Clonlara. Asking all to stand for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect, John Callinan recalled playing in the Fitgibbon Cup with Tom. He said it was “an appropriate occasion to think of him and his family. He was a major character in our team. He was the man of the 1970s”. Clare GAA chairman Joe Cooney recalled Crowe’s “historic and crucial goal against Kilkenny in the unforgettable league final”. “Did a sliother ever take so long to get over the …