Pub slams vacationer centre after they complain over boozers ‘carbon footprint’

A local tourist centre has been slammed as “virtue signalling” after telling a pub off over its carbon footprint.

Working Holiday Ireland was left unimpressed with JJ Houghs Singing Pub, in Banagher, Ireland, after the pub posted a picture of two people having a turf fire. It gave the landlord of a 250-year-old pub a telling-off.

Writing in the comments section, according to MailOnline, they said: “I see you’re burning turf?! Carbon footprint guys…”

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Turf fires release a lot of carbon dioxide, but have been a traditional heating method in Ireland for centuries, meaning the matter has become a hot topic.

The pub, however, hit back at length.

It said: “It’s how we heat the pub. Looking at your page you rely on tourists from abroad coming to Ireland correct? How do they get here? They hardly swam.

“How would you quantify and compare the emissions of a Boeing 747 to a small turf fire. How do your guests get around Ireland when they arrive, do they walk?

“I also see by your page you promote Dunnes Stores, who have 138 stores in Ireland and abroad, do you query their carbon footprint? When your guests are here do you check their clothing to ensure they aren’t made of synthetic polyester, a byproduct of petroleum.

“Did you write your critique of my turf fire on a phone or laptop? Both of which were developed and are powered by fossil fuel technology.

“Maybe think before criticising a small family-run pubs turf fire. Maybe call in some day and I’ll give you my carbon footprint up your hole.”

The tourist centre was then told to stop making the situation worse after it said: “Joking aside, Turf=Peat…Peat=Carbon Capture=Good for the Environment

“Burning Peat/Turf=Less Carbon Capture=Bad for the Environment”.

Peat is used as a fuel source and is made from partly decomposed plants. It is gathered by turf cutters, but in 2022 the sale online and in retail spaces was banned.

The following day, the pub put out a post of its own saying: “When we posted a seemingly innocuous picture of our first turf fire of the season, little did we realise there was a virtue signalling troll waiting in the long grass armed and ready to snipe at one of the main pillars of Ireland, the turf fire.

“We were delighted with the messages of support which reveal that people are still proud of the traditions and heritage that make us Irish. From that first discovery of fire, it has contributed to the development of culture and language throughout the ages and continues to be the centrepiece of the Traditional Irish Pub where we gather to converse, communicate while sometimes being lewd and lascivious but always good craic. Do not hasten to abandon all tradition just yet.”

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