Pubs countywide join Harp boycott

December 1986

THE majority of County Wicklow publicans are boycotting the sale of draught and bottled Harp Lager in protest against the Guinness decision to increase the price of drink by 4p per pint.

While not everyone has rowed in with the recommendation to ban sales of Harp, a check around the county on Wednesday revealed that the majority of publicans were or intended to join in the protest.

Aidan Doyle, Joint Chairman of the County Wicklow Vintners’ Association, told us thatm as a result of a meeting last Monday, publicans in thee Arklow area had banned the sale of Harp until further notice.

‘As from last Monday morning, no Harp has been sold in Arklow and surrounding area. The position is the same in Wicklow Town and district, Kilcoole, Aughrim, Tinahely and most towns and villages around the county.’

Mr Doyle is very happy with the response to date and, depending on the outcome of a meeting of the Licensed Vintners Federation in Dublin on Thursday, a decision may be taken to call a county-wide meeting next week.

The decision of the publicans is being backed fully by customers, out of whose pockets the increase will come.

While the price increase will not be taking general effect until this weekend, the price to the publican went up for stout and Smithwicks last Monday, and the 4p will be applied to other Guinness products from next Monday.

A check in Wicklow Town showed that all publicans had withdrawn Harp. This was confirmed by Joe Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Bros., whose premises applied the ban as of last Monday.

All around Bray startled lager drinkers found that the Harp pumps were dry. However, despair didn’t last long in most pubs as heretofore Harp drinkers discovered the delights of rival products, Heineken and Holsten Pils... and the verdict - the ‘new’ pint seemed just as good as the traditional Harp.

According to Frank O’Rahilly, a traditional ballad singer, nobody will miss Harp. ‘As far as I’m concerned Harp has changed in the last few years 0 they’re putting more chemicals into it now and to my mind Heineken is just as good.

The publicans’ revolt has spread to other pubs in Bray. Dermot Read, owner of the Piper Lounge on the Main Street, is determined to teach Guinness a lesson.

‘We are now pushing the products of the other breweries,’ he said. ‘For instance we are now matching Murphy’s stout with Guinness, and Caffery’s ale with Smithwicks.’