This article is from page 3 of the 2007-10-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A MONTPELIER publican, who is causing controversy locally by em- ploying a topless barmaid, has said his next move is to employ a male model to work behind the taps wear- ing “the bare minimum”.
A defiant John Joe Fitzpatrick of Browne’s pub has had a topless bar- maid working on his premises every Thursday night since the beginning of September.
But he has been getting a mixed re-
action locally to the promotion with some residents branding the move as “tasteless and degrading”.
People living in the village and neighbouring O’Briensbridge were reluctant to be named when making comments about John Joe, who lives locally as well as being the publican.
“It’s degrading. There are plenty of publicans around the country strug- gling and they don’t resort to this kind of thing. That might be alright in Soho but not in a pub in a small country village,’ one local man said.
Another local resident said that the move “shows no respect for this community. It’s a cheap stunt and he’ll drive away more people than he’ll bring in.”
The resident said that many local people are “completely disgusted by this. It’s degrading for the woman who works there and it’s not what we want our area to be known for. It’s just low.”
An irate woman living in Montpel- lier said it is “disgraceful that this is happening right across the road from
the Church and the community cen- akon
But the publican last night defended the move. “All over the country pubs are losing business. People need something to prompt them to get up and get out again.”
John Joe said that he does not agree with his detractors . “There’s no vul- garity involved. The lady in question has several items on at any given time – she just has less on on top. She doesn’t have a problem with it and the customers are very happy with it.
A lot of people said that it’s a wonder no one thought of doing this before and some of the married ladies say it’s put a bit of sparkle back in their love lives.”
The Montpelier businessman said that he currently has a male model in training who will be taking up his station behind the taps some time in November on Tuesday nights.
‘We have to ensure we have equal- ity and I think the lady customers will be delighted with him” said John Joe.