By 2017 25% of west cork pubs had closed. That trend has continued over the last three years and the compulsory covid closure means   many more will be unlikely to re-open. The smoking ban, drink driving, supermarket alcohol sales and some of the highest excise duties in europe make pubs an icreasingly unsustainable business model.   Random   guard checkpoints on even the most remote   backroads have destroyed many rural pubs. The   pub as a venue for folkmusic is shrinking   rapidly.