A lobby group has called on the Government to set up a fund to help rural pubs hit by the smoking ban.
Irish Rural Link is supportive of the ban but says it also recognises "that rural pubs, especially those in remote rural areas, will have a harder time than their urban counterparts in implementing this beneficial legislation".
The group says the fund should go towards helping publicans build smoking shelters
National co-ordinator, Mr Seamus Boland, said: "There are plenty of people in remote rural areas who have been smoking for 30, 40, 50 years and although we would encourage all people to look at quitting, it is quite difficult for a lot of people to give up a habit of a lifetime."
"There are the likes of farmers and others in rural areas who work long hours and look forward to a quiet drink and a cigarette after a hard day's work. We believe in freedom of choice and so there should be some sort of facility that will accommodate these people."