A BUSINESSMAN has hit out at villagers after his pub venture failed.

William Flood had been leasing a bar in the pretty Co Donegal village of Rathmullan.

But when he failed to make a go of it, he took out an advert in his local newspaper thanking customers for NOT drinking in his pub ‘Big Paddys.’

The bar re-opened 18 months ago after being closed for a number of years.

But the bar was forced to close its doors recently because of a lack of trade.

Shocked staff at the Tirconaill Tribune newspaper initially refused to take an advert thinking it was an April Fool.

It appeared in editions of the widely-read newspaper yesterday, and read: “Big Paddy’s Bar has closed its doors. I would like to take this time and personally thank the people of Rathmullan for supporting me in this venture over the last 18 months NOT!! Thanks.”

Mr Flood could not be contacted for comment last night at the telephone number he gave in the advert.

Local people in Rathmullan were taken aback by the advertisement which appeared on page two of the popular local weekly paper.

"It's tough times for everyone," said one local resident yesterday.

"People don't have the money to go out as much and there are some super other bars in the village to choose from.

"It's kind of unfair to blame the people of Rathmullan because a pub didn't survive."

A spokesman for the Tirconaill Tribune newspaper said: "We thought the advert was some sort of April Fool and pointed out we didn't publish on April 1.

"But as the customer paid for it and insisted that it wasn't, we agreed to publish it."

Online Editors