Offaly pub's Christmas ad rivals big budget offerings

Well known Banagher pub JJ Hough's has made a Christmas ad that rivals any of the big budget offerings on TV at present.

Currently on around 20,000 views on their Facebook page and featured on a number of websites, including Joe.ie, Ger Hough's ad features an old woman putting up her Christmas decorations. Unable to put the star on her tree, she orders a pint of Guinness to be delivered by drone. After delivering the pint, the accommodating drone then puts the star on her Christmas tree.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent this week, film maker Ger, who's 2012 short film The Fear was watched over 600,000 times online, quipped that he won't be happy until this year's Christmas ad hits the million mark – his Christmas ad last year was viewed over 55,000 times. 

Ger says the main theme of the ad apart from wishing his customers a Happy Christmas, is humanity's increasing dependence on technology and “how we co-exist”. There's also a bit of tongue in cheek commentary on one of the main problems facing rural pubs at present.

“A drone is one way to overcome the obstacle of no rural transport as locals can't get out. Maybe we'll also be able to fly the locals in by drone.”

The ad is a truly collaborative effort with a number of local people appearing in it including his mother Sheila, who plays the old woman, husband and wife Martin and Margaret Murphy, Vinny Fennell, and the real star of the show young Blaithin Corrigan. Darragh Kelly from iDrone.ie provided the stunning drone footage, while the song in the video, Lonely Avenues, is by Ger's cousin Ultan Conlon.