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Welcome to Ireland, an island of Greenfields, a picturesque Atlantic coastline and friendly people,

who often gather in the nation's famous pubs. But many of this country's traditional bars are being

forced to close. I'm Russell Padmore, and in Business Daily from Ireland, I'll analyse why

over less than 20 years,

almost a quarter of Irish pubs have served their last drink. And the closures will continue.

Unfortunately, I think that pubs will continue to decline. I do see the number of licensed premises,

particularly in rural areas, declining. The loss of pubs in rural Ireland is a setback for communities and a worrying trend for

tourism.

Irish pubs disappear. Then tourists will disappear because the pubs are a huge draw.

They're a huge cultural draw.

A session in McKelby's pub here in Bali Buffet, a small town in the rural northwest of Ireland.

The customers are being entertained by traditional music, often played in pubs by unpaid

enthusiasts, and they're enjoying the crack.

An Irish language word for enjoyment in a social gathering.

For hundreds of years, the iconic Irish pub has been part of the community,

but rising costs are threatening to make the trade unprofitable.

According to the drinks industry group of Ireland,

more than 100 pubs closed last year,

part of a decline that has seen nearly 2,000 pulled down

the shutter since 2005.

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