MAKE MILLENNIUM A FAMILY OCCASION, SAY BUSINESSMEN

Saturday, August 14, 1999 03:00

A new pressure group of businessmen has emerged with the aim of closing down Ireland's nightspots as the country enters the third Millennium.

The Galway Millennium Initiative said it was lobbying to get pubs and restaurants to shut up shop on New Year's Eve.

Its position was in marked contrast to that taken by the Irish government, which has spent hundreds of thousands of pounds promoting Ireland as an enthusiastic participant of the celebrations.

Ministers launched the world's first Millennium event in March to coincide with St Patrick's festivities, with a huge fireworks display on the banks of the River Liffey in Dublin.

They have also been pushing through new pub licensing legislation which will allow round-the-clock opening as a one-off for New Year's Eve.

However the new organisation, a group of west of Ireland businessmen, said Millennium night should be a "truly family occasion"  not another night on the town.

They maintained that their staff should not be asked to work on a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

One of the group, publican Ronnie Greaney, said the initiative had so far met a positive response.

"There's huge support at the moment with most of the pubs agreed," he said.

"They think it's a great idea and all propose that if we should all close together it would be a great example to the rest of the country."

A Galway-based takeaway chain gave its support for the venture by announcing that it would close its 40 fast food outlets early on December 31 and allow the 1,200 staff to go home early.

Managing director Pat McDonagh said: "Looking down the line, in years to come when you ask where were you on the night of the Millennium people would like to say they were at home with their families.

"Accordingly, as most people would want to be home on that particular night, that's why we decided to shut down on the night."

http://www.lineone.net/newswire/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi/skynews/uk/story/1999/8/c--1999-8-14-0n8.html

-- c (waiting@home.com), August 14, 1999