W2C-010 Sunday Life 2-3.txt
Armagh's drinkers face dry weekend

Publicans in the south Armagh village of Crossmaglen had their busiest weekend of the year put in jeopardy when a lorry delivering £ 20,000 of drink was hijacked on Friday.

The lorry was bringing the drink for the Crossmaglen Traditional Weekend, an annual even of music and drinking, which attracts thousands to the village.

The publicans are now anxiously looking at their stocks to see whether they can manage without the 160 barrels stolen in a daylight raid at Silverbridge, near the border village.

Although Sunday is one of the quieter days of the festival, pubs with extra stock have agreed to help out any who run into difficulties.

Joe Pilkington, the owner of The Cartwheel, one of the largest pubs in the village, said that it was difficult to predict sales but thought he had enough to last the final night.

"If I don't, I wouldn't like to see the faces of the people around here if I tried to ration it," he said.
