Paulik Tye is initially from Co Cavan, Virginia and has been working at Downey’s Bar in Cabra since his father took over the bar in 2002.
Step contained in the native and you will see a collage of pictures of loyal clients, a framed photograph of Downey’s crowd holding Irish flags at Italia 90, a test for donations raised for Temple Avenue Kids’s Hospital, and a statue of Elvis Presley. You may see a flag.
There’s additionally a €5 be aware on the Guinness Six Nations flag, letting folks know that Downy’s is likely one of the few pubs within the capital nonetheless promoting at that worth.
However as Diageo continues to boost the worth of alcohol, it is changing into more and more troublesome to maintain pints at an inexpensive worth.
“We’re the final of the Mohicans. It is getting more durable and more durable,” Mr Tye informed the Irish Unbiased.
“It is good to be aggressive, however we’re distinctive and this pub cannot be replicated wherever else. It is primarily the fault of the individuals who come right here, not us. They’re the Downey, Downey is making.
“Behind the bar we have now pictures of consumers and commemorative playing cards from previous clients. When these kinds of pubs shut, there’ll most likely be a Starbucks or a espresso store of their place. It is distinctive to the world. It is an izakaya.
“What we’re aiming for is to get folks to exit and drink as an alternative of sitting at residence ingesting. We’re asking folks to attempt it one evening every week as a result of it is €5 a pint. That’s our proposal to the folks.
“Our clients are locals right here in Cabra East. They’re on the opposite facet of the wall. That is the native Cabra pub and the reasonably priced costs will encourage folks to return.
“That is what we wish. There is no level in having costly drinks and empty pubs. We would like folks to have a drink with us and develop into a part of the neighborhood.” I want to.
“I believe the worth of a pint in Temple Bar is a vacationer bubble within the city centre. What’s it, it’s a vacationer entice.
“My dad purchased the pub in 2002 and I have been right here for 22 years now. Since Covid-19, we have observed that costs have gone up and our overhead prices have elevated significantly.
“Just lately Diageo introduced they’re placing it up once more, which is one other hammer blow. We’re making an attempt to maintain the pint at €5 and that is actually, actually troublesome,” he added.
For greater than 20 years, pubs have battled arduous blows such because the 2008 recession and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, however are struggling as a result of the price of residing disaster.
“Since COVID-19, Diageo has elevated costs at the least twice, and Heineken has performed the identical. That additionally will get by way of to clients, which individuals don’t love,” Tai mentioned.
“It’s an actual disgrace as a result of the electrical energy invoice has gone up significantly and the overall working prices and bottles have gone up too.
“For individuals who drink at residence, we rounded the pints as much as 5 o’clock. They came upon we had been providing pints for five euros and paid us perhaps one evening every week. You may take into account coming, assembly buddies, and watching a recreation.
“Reasonably than sitting at residence, they could come right here earlier than the Bohs recreation, have a couple of beers and go watch the sport.
“If we have now to maintain elevating the worth of a pint, folks should keep at residence and will not come right here,” he added.