Sinead Ryan has hit out at the “distracting” phenomenon of pubs screening rolling news throughout the day. 

The Home Show presenter said there is “nothing nicer” than watching a big game in the pub with your pals but feels that is the only thing they should screen. 

“The football season is kicking off, rugby’s not far behind, we’ve had the Olympics,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

“I’ve watched many of those events in a pub - I think it’s fantastic. 

“However, I really object to and increasingly hate this ‘flat screen wall art’ of televisions on every surface and the sound muted - which makes no sense at all.

“Then you’ve rolling news - either RTÉ or Sky News or some K-pop video.” 

Ms Ryan described this phenomenon as “rubbish” and “so distracting” when you’re with people you want to talk to. 

“I go to the pub if I’m going to meet somebody for a chat, a drink, I put my phone away and then you find your eyes automatically drift towards these flashing images on the wall,” she said. 

“It’s just really irksome actually.” 

Ms Ryan feels this happens in the majority of pubs and was shocked to find a restaurant was screening rolling news as well. 

“I think it’s most of them,” she said. 

“I can’t give you empirical evidence because I haven’t drunk in most pubs but it seems to be almost all of them.” 

'Personal choice'

Lunchtime Live listener Alex said he does not go to pubs very much but said many people probably enjoy watching TV over a pint. 

“Everything comes down to personal choice,” he said. 

“The people who are most against it would be more vocal - but it’ll be a small minority at the end of the day.”

He suggested anyone who did not like listening to TV in the pub find a place without one.

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Main image: A group of friends watching a football match in a pub. Picture by: Alamy.com