"Sure there will be free drinks tonight," said Mr Eugene McGovern, manager of the Dinn Ri pub in Carlow, winner of the Black and White Pub of the Year Award. "Of course you won't be printing this until tomorrow so it's all right to say that," said the Co Cavan man, who was clearly pleased with the win, but not prepared to get completely carried away.
He was accompanied by Mr Niall McGovern, son of the owner of the Dinn Ri, Mr John McGovern, who opened the pub in November 1995.
It also won the provincial superpub award and the superpub of the year award yesterday.
The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, took time out from keeping the Coalition together to present the awards in Dublin yesterday. Fresh from a meeting with the Taoiseach, where she said they had discussed "current affairs", Ms Harney told the assembled publicans that "in politics things are never as black and white as they are here this afternoon." She went on to comment on the unique position of pubs in Ireland, telling the publicans that their premises perform an important social function. "For many, going to the pub once a week for a few drinks is the difference between being able to survive and to enjoy life."
The awards are celebrating 21 years in existence and Mr Peter Wallace, managing director of Edward Dillon and Co, said that 677 pubs had entered this year, an increase of 30 per cent on last year's entry. The Dinn Ri, which can hold up to 800 people, is split into themes and includes a library, chemist shop, barber shop and grocery. Over 100 people are employed there. The word Dinn is old Irish for dun, Dinn Ri translating as The Fortress of the King.
There is a series of legends around the name, mainly concerning Labhaoire Laoinseach who was the king of Dinn Ri about 500 BC.