Posted on 07/24/2004 2:05:59 AM PDT by Happygal
A MYSTERY tobacco crusader has been visiting pubs in the south of the country.
The phantom smoker, who goes by the name of Wandering Minstrel, has unleashed a campaign of defiance against the anti-smoking crackdown by visiting pubs nationwide, openly smoking - and then leaving his calling card.
He launched his campaign in Cork but his defiance has now taken in other counties.
The Wandering Minstrel immediately leaves a premises once instructed to put out his cigarette.
While the campaign was initially greeted with grudging admiration by publicans, the heavy fines threatened against all premises breaching the regulations has sparked a dramatic mood switch.
Kerry publican, Don Carmody, of the Elm Bar in Duagh, Co Kerry, encountered the Wandering Minstrel when he directed a customer to stop smoking.
He left, dropping his calling card on the table. It featured a rough sketch of the customer - complete with hat and scrub beard.
Nothing else was noted about the wraith-like smoking crusader beyond the fact that he drives a plush MG sports car.
Environmental health officers, meanwhile, are believed to be close to smoking out the Wandering Minstrel and have vowed to stub out his campaign of disobedience before it ignites any further public protests.
But good for him!
Ping-a-ling! :-)
well, a horse and wagon would be too slow to stay ahead of the cops.
Another story is linked there.
Left this card
Why is there a newspaper called the KERRYMAN??
*L*..The Kerryman is the biggest provincial newspaper in the south-west region. It's owned by the independent group.
I know, I know! The name conjures up a wealth of bad jokes! *L*
Thanks for the link! :-)
A MUSICIAN has embarked on a year-long protest against the Irish smoking ban. Sean O'Neil claims to have broken the law in 20 different pubs, leaving a calling card in each one with the message "I smoked in your bar". He has vowed to puff openly in a different bar each day for the next year in protest against the ban.
Travelling the country selling his albums under the name The Wandering Minstrel, he has been barred, gone unnoticed and even been offered a cigarette by one publican. "It's a one-man stand against what one man banned. I am doing this for common sense and freedom and moderation and tolerance. Someone has to do it. If I'm asked to leave, I leave. I tell them I'm breaking the law and to ring the hotline if they wish. Many of them don't seem to have the number," he said.
Source: Sunday Times (18 April 2004)
I am reading these stories with a very bad irish accent in my head. I need serious professional treatment.
BTW, I like this guys mission statement! :-)
It's a one-man stand against what one man banned.
Now watch 100,000 converts to the cause of mystery smoking. The bars would be filled with smoke and the wanderers traveling to new locations after getting "thrown out"! I love it.
I like that
Maybe they could all dress up like Gandalf the Gray and ride a wagon around...
What other businesses are faced with such huge fines for not enforcing a law they didn't want to begin with??????
All these smoking bans are is a back door means of prohibition of alcohol at best.....at worst they are a means of destroying small business in favor of big business chain restaurants.
PUFF!!!!!!!!!!
A man after my own heart!
A boyo with b****!
thanks for your ping list she lion...........I just noticed that this is in chat and not news..........so the only way it will get noticed is through ample use of ping lists....
Oh ok! I didn't notice that they put this in chat. I would probably have missed it if you hadn't pinged me.
bump
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