At Castle Island the proportion is still more astounding--51 public-houses in a population of 800.

In Kiltimagh every second house is a public-house! These houses are perhaps a legacy of the old days of political jobbery.[19] No matter when or why granted, the licence appears to be regarded as a hereditary "right" not lightly to be tampered with; and of course the publicans are persons of consequence in their neighbourhood, no matter how wretched it may be, or how trifling their legitimate business.

Three police convictions are required to make the resident magistrates refuse the usual yearly renewal of a licence; and if an application is made against such a renewal, cause must be shown.

The "publics" are naturally centres of local agitation, and the publicans are sharp enough to see the advantage to them of this.

The sergeant told me of a publican here in Ennis, into whose public came three Nationalists, bent not upon drinking, but upon talking.