'The Idle Hour' has been accepted as a venue for Henparty.ie. No surprise here, as it's the best party pub in Ireland!!!!!! Anyway, if you know of any hens coming up ring 085 7475709 and we will put a package together for them.

A BASIC "SKOOL KATCHUP' WEBISTE IS NOW UP AND RUNNING FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES. IT'S JUST A BASIC HOLDING PAGE, BUT YOU CAN REGISTER NOW AND WE WILL CONTACT YOU WHEN IT'S FULLY OPERATING. I'D BE GRATEFUL IF ANYONE THAT HAS AN INTEREST IN CONTACTING/MEETING EX SCHOOL MATES WOULD REGISTER. Website. skoolkatchup.com MANY THANKS. SORRY , ONE LAST ASK, COULD YOU SHARE POST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, CHEERS.

Tonight is 'Skool Katchup' for any students that went to Carraig na bhFear between the years 1975 to 1980. Those years are only a guideline. If you left in early 70's call in as you'll probably know a few. It's my school days so looking forward to it. See you there!!1

Good luck to Nemo Saturday.

Great news Mark Farrell, seen here in the Idle before Xmas, is the new Lord Mayor of San Francisco. Congrats.

DOORS OPEN SATURDAY 1.45 PM ========================= IRELAND V WALES 2.15PM SCOTLAND V ENGLAND 4.45 PM DOORS OPEN SUNDAY 12.30 PM ======================== DOUBLE HEADER IN THE PAIRC 1 PM AND 3 PM 2.05PM MAN UTD V CHELSEA 4.30PM ARSENAL V MAN CITY CUP FINAL

VERY GOOD 25/1!

THIS WEEK I TOOK MY SMALL SON TO SOUTH INFIRMARY VICTORIA HOSPITAL TO SEE A PAEDIATRIC PHYSIO. THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE, LAST AUGUST , THE LIFT WAS BROKEN. ON TUESDAY THE LIFT WAS STILL BROKEN. THERE WAS A SIGN UP ON THE NOTICE BOARD WITH A 'HSE' EMAIL ADDRESS, ENCOURAGING US TO WRITE TO THEM AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE THE BROKEN LIFT HAD CAUSED. SWEET JESUS. ON MONDAY, THE EVENING ECHO, AGAIN REPORTED THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPLACE THE 500 TREES THAT WERE LOST DURING STORM OPHELIA. SWEET JESUS. TAKING THOSE TWO THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, I WONT BE TUNING IN TO THE GOVERNMENTS €115BILLION [YES IT'S NOT A MISTAKE €115 BILLION] ' NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN'. WHY DIDN'T THEY MAKE IT €515 BILLION ALTOGETHER?????? FINALLY , I MUST GIVE CREDIT TO WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO LAUCH IT IN SLIGO. I CAN IMAGINE THE THINKING, ' WE WILL LAUNCH IT IN SLIGO AS WE ARE GIVING THEM FECK ALL'. BRILLIANT!

NEXT FRIDAY IS 'SKOOL KATCHUP' NIGHT FOR CARRAIG NA bhFEAR 1975 TO 1980. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF EVERYONE COULD PASS ON THE INFO TO ANY PAST PUPILS. I'VE HAD 15/16 REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE TO HOLD A 'SKOOL KATCHUP' NIGHT FOR THEIR SCHOOL AND YEARS.JUST TO SAY THAT I'M NOT IGNORING ANY OF YOU, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHERE TO TAKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.AS SOON AS I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ALL. CHEERS.

APPARENTLY ANOTHER TWO PUBS IN THE CITY GONE SINCE THE WEEKEND. ONE BEING 'THE EVERGREEN' IN TURNERS CROSS. CARNAGE. 50 YEARS TRADING AND 15 STAFF LET GO!!!!

TODAYS IRISH EXAMINER.... Thursday, February 15, 2018 - 08:40 AM By Pádraig Hoare Pubs in rural areas have to turn over at least €8,000 per week or they may not survive, according to a new report. AIB’s Pubs Outlook report for 2018 found the industry, which employs 230,000 people, is on the road to recovery with significant demand for pubs in key urban areas. Tony Morrissey, managing director of pub specialist auctioneering firm Morrissey’s, said despite growing stability, many publicans are still vulnerable. “If a pub is not turning over €8,000-€9,000 a week in rural areas, then it’s going to be very difficult for them to survive. The same is true of Dublin and if a pub is not turning over between €12,000 and €13,000 a week, it’s in trouble,” he said. SO AIB'S PUB OUTLOOK FOR 2018 IS DIRE! WHAT A SURPRISE!!!! I HAVE ONLY ONE ISSUE WITH THE REPORT. THE SURVIVAL FEARS ARE NOT CONFINED TO RURAL PUBS, AS IT'S RAMPANT IN CORK CITY. FIVE CITY PUBS CLOSED ALREADY THIS YEAR IN THE FIRST 6 WEEKS AND, ACCORDING TO MAIN SUPPLIERS REPS I SPOKE TO THIS WEEK, MANY MORE TO FOLLOW. IT'S THE PERFECT STORM, DECREASING TURNOVER AND CONSTANT INCREASE IN RUNNING COSTS. ALSO THE CONSTANT HAMMERING BY SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS AND THE ANTI ALCOHOL BRIGADE IS TAKING ITS TOLL. WHY, OH WHY, ISN'T THERE A QUANGO TO REPRESENT THE PUB INDUSTRY AND THE 95% OF IRISH DRINKERS, WHO DRINK RESPONSIBILY????????? IN IRELAND IT'S SO POLITICALLY CORRECT TO BASH THE PUB INDUSTRY. IN CONTRAST, IN THE LAST 5/6 BUDGETS IN THE UK, THE GOVERMENTS HAVE INTRODUCED MEASURES TO KEEP PUBS TRADING. IN 2013 THEY BROUGHT IN GRANTS, TOTALLING QUARTER OF A BILLION POUNDS, TO ALLOW COMMUNITIES IN VILLAGES AND LOCAL ESTATES TO BUY AND RUN LOCAL PUBS ,THAT ARE UNDER THE THREAT OF CLOSURE. WHAT A BRILLIANT SCHEME. BUT COULD YOU SEE ANY ELECTED MEMBER OF OUR GOVERMENT HAVING THE 'BALLS' TO EVEN SUGGEST THIS. THERE ARE NOW ONLY ABOUT 75OO PUBS LEFT IN IRELAND AND THE FUTURE FOR THE VAST MAJORITY IS BLEAK. THE REALITY IS THAT CHANGING THE IDLE HOUR TO A COFFEE SHOP OR FAST FOOD OUTLET WOULD MAKE TOTAL ECONOMIC SENSE. WHAT A SHAME IF 9 ALBERT QUAY (THE IDLE HOUR) IS THE NEW STARBUCKS IN THE CITY, BUT THAT'S NOT A 100/1 CHANCE.

IT'S ONLY VALENTINES DAY BUT..........WE'RE OFF!!! AS REGULARS WILL KNOW, I THINK UK WOULD STRUGGLE TO WIN THE EUROVISION WITH MICHAEL JACKSON OR WHITNEY, BUT BELOW, IS THEIR BEST ENTRY IN YEARS. SO MUCH SO, EARLY DAYS, BUT I THINK THEY COULD FINISH TOP 5. ANYWAY LET THE FUN BEGIN FOR THE NEXT 3 MONTHS....