A well-known County Offaly pub, known for its live singing and traditional music, shared a cozy photo of its ‘first fire of the year’ on social media.
However, another company quickly spotted that the fire seemed to be fueled by turf, sparking a lively exchange in the comments section of the pub’s post.
Taking to Facebook, Working Holiday Ireland wrote under the Irish pub’s photo: "I see your [sic] burning turf!! Carbon footprint guys…" leading to what can only be described as a wild interaction prompting thousands of likes and support for the pub.
Clapping back to the smart comment, JJ Hough’s commented: "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 Boeing 747 to a small turf fire?
"How do your guests get around Ireland when they arrive? Do they walk? I also see on your page that you promote Dunnes Stores, which has 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 criticizing a small family-run pub turf fire. Maybe call in someday, and I’ll give you my carbon footprint up your hole."
The Irish pub’s reply immediately went viral, receiving nearly 2,500 likes. Hundreds added their support for the pub, with many branding their response "perfect", which claimed that it can only heat its premises by lighting its fire due to a lack of modern heating systems. It is understood that the ‘singing pub’ is approximately 250 years old.
Working Holiday Ireland has since replied to the pub’s rant, standing by what they had initially said, commenting: "Joking aside, Turf = Peat… Peat = Carbon Capture = Good for the environment… Burning peat/turf = Less carbon capture = bad for the environment."
Are you planning a vacation in Ireland? Looking for advice or want to share some great memories? Join our Irish travel Facebook group.
Continuing the turf war, the traditional pub issued a separate post, appearing to slam the Irish company while also commending the people of Ireland for supporting them in what they saw as an unprovoked attack.
The Irish pub wrote: "When we posted a seemingly innocuous picture of our first turf fire of the season, little did we release there was a virtue signally 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 centerpiece of the traditional Irish pub, where we gather to converse and communicate while sometimes being lewd and lascivious but always good craic. Do not hasten to abandon all tradition just yet."
Working Holiday Ireland has not responded to the pub’s second post about the interaction, which has gained thousands of likes in recent days.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments