Can you have a community without craic? Scholars of Ireland's pubs warn of declining numbers

"Like triple-distilled whiskey, Irish pubs appear to have timeless appeal. They are staple setting in films, books and plays, draw tourists to Ireland, replicate themselves around the world and induce social media quests for the perfect snug and the perfect pint. Scholars have now bestowed academic imprimatur on this cultural treasure status by examining and celebrating pubs through the lens of history, sociology, architecture, psychology, design, art and literature."

"They are vanishing from rural Ireland and many are struggling to survive in the capital. It feels like a moment of transition, said Donal Fallon, author of The Dublin Pub. Every Dubliner should drive through rural towns to see what's happening. The pub has been knocked off its perch. Some villages have lost all their pubs and new housing developments often omit pubs, said Perry Share, a co-editor of The Irish Pub, a collection of essays by 20 writers."

"Since 2005, Ireland has lost a quarter of its pubs, more than 2,100, averaging 112 closures a year. Cited reasons include high taxes on alcohol, drink-driving laws, rising property prices and a fall in alcohol consumption. It is a global phenomenon traditional bars are shuttering across Britain and much of Europe and Asia but for Ireland the stakes are particularly high, said Share, who heads the school of social science and humanities at Atlantic Technological University."

Irish pubs hold longstanding cultural, social, architectural and literary significance and serve as focal points for tourism and social life. Academic research examines pubs through history, sociology, architecture, psychology, design, art and literature to identify elements that produce craic and the perfect pub. Pubs are declining: since 2005 Ireland lost about a quarter of pubs (over 2,100), averaging 112 closures annually. Contributing factors include high alcohol taxes, drink-driving laws, rising property prices and reduced alcohol consumption. Closures concentrate in rural areas and threaten loneliness, social segmentation and community cohesion.

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