Is the future of the Irish Rural Pub Sustainable

(Supervisor of studies)

The School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology,

Dublin Institute of Technology

Cathal Brugha Street Dublin 1.

April 2014

DT417/4 BCS BAR STUDIES (MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP)

Is the future of the rural pub sustainable? An exploration of

factors which shape rural pubs in County Monaghan

Submitted by: Martin Smyth

A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the bachelor of Science in Bar Studies

(Management and Entrepreneurship)

Presented to: James Murphy MSc (Hons), MA (Ed)

Dublin Institute of Technology

i

Declaration

I certify that this dissertation which I now submit for examination for the award of

Bachelor of Science in Bar Studies Management and Entrepreneurship is entirely my

own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that

such work has been cited and acknowledged within the text of my work.

This dissertation was prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Dublin

Institute of Technology and has not been submitted in whole or in part for an award

in any other Institute or University.

The Institute has permission to keep, lend or to copy this dissertation in whole or in

part, on condition that any such use of the material of the dissertation be duly

acknowledged.

Signed: Date:

Martin Smyth

Dublin Institute of Technology

ii

Abstract

The main hypothesis of this study is to examine the factors that are having a

conflicting impact on the Irish rural pub trade in County Monaghan The research sub

questions explored the issues of economic downturn, government intervention, social

isolation, access to services and a change of consumer behaviour. It is proposed that

this study would be reflective of the Irish rural pub trade. There is a broad range of

information available in regards to the macro-environment; however there is...