Pat's all, folks: Giant statue of St Patrick holding pint of Guinness removed from Temple Bar pub after complaint

"I think somebody painted it black in transit, and we may have got in a little trouble for that. I'll let you figure that out yourself. The structure has been removed, as was agreed following discussions between Dublin City Council's Planning Enforcement Section and the owner of the premises."

"There's always going to be people begrudging, no matter what you're doing in life, in any business. I think if they're not talking about you, you're not doing it right. And to people who are saying they don't like it, I mean, tough."

"We have the Christmas tree there year-round, and of course, you have to get pre-approval for whatever you want up there. We've got the lights, we have the shamrocks, we even had a couple of reindeer on the roof as well this Christmas. But everything is pre-approved."

A statue of Saint Patrick was installed above Temple Bar pub in Dublin, generating mixed public reactions ahead of St Patrick's Day. The statue originally held a chalice but was painted black in transit, resulting in a Guinness pint. Dublin City Council's Planning Enforcement Section became aware of the installation and required its removal by lunchtime. The bar manager, Tom Cleary, defended the installation, arguing it didn't need planning permission since the pub displays pre-approved seasonal decorations year-round, including Christmas trees, lights, shamrocks, and reindeer. Despite criticism, Cleary dismissed detractors, stating that controversy indicates successful business operations.

Read at Irish Independent