Tobacco crusader lights up for smokers' rights

Irish Independent ^ | Sat, Jul 24 04 | Ralph Riegel

[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.

[MeekOneGOP]

[Gabz]

i still get a kick out of that one!!!!!!!!!!!

[SheLion]

Hubba Hubba! heh!

[Happygal]

My fault that this is in 'chat'.
I posted it here, because it's Irish news - and well, ye know how the mods don't like the boards being clogged up with stuff that's not strictly relative to America etc.

[aculeus]

Kerry publican, Don Carmody, of the Elm Bar in Duagh, Co Kerry ...

Is that you, Uncle Don?

(aculeus' mother's maiden name: Carmody)

[Gabz]

and well, ye know how the mods don't like the boards being clogged up with stuff that's not strictly relative to America etc.

If it weren't for the Americans (such as in Meek's picture above) this wouldn't even be an issue in Ireland.

[SheLion]

My fault that this is in 'chat'.

Hey! That's ok. I never knew how that worked. If we did it or the mods did it. This is fine. :)

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe! :^D

[Dan from Michigan]

Considering that the public health statists unfortunatly originated here, I'd say it's relevant.

"It's banned in NYC and Ireland...ban it nationwide..no...globalwide!!!"

[Happygal]

Considering that the public health statists unfortunatly originated here, I'd say it's relevant.

Yup! I didn't think of that though at the time of posting! Hey! I was only out of the scratcher! *L*

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I actually read an article in the Sunday World several months ago about the 'Wandering Minstrel'.

BTW, in my household we read the Sunday World, you'll know as a journalist that it is one of the better tabloids, Paul Williams is as every bit as good, and as gutsy as Veronica Geurian, so I think we should also post any good SW articles, in fact I'll have a look in the paper myself now for a good article.

[Happygal]

I didn't realise the SW had an online edition.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I didn't realise the SW had an online edition.

I'm just after checking that out, it has a website, www.sundayworld.com, but it is only an advertisement for itself, no articles, it's a pity we can't have Paul Williams on FR (unless you love typing).