A Galway publican is to ban mobile phones in his bar, in an effort to encourage people to talk to each other more.

Whiskey Joe's in Loughrea will ban phones from 8pm this Saturday night on a trial basis.

In a post on their Facebook page, the pub says: "I know we all love our phones and for most people it's the best invention of all time - but sometimes when I'm behind the bar on a Saturday night surveying the crowd, I wonder is it by far the worst invention of all time."

"So I have decided that I'm talking action against this epidemic of over usage."

Patrons will be offered a box like this | Image: Facebook/Whiskey's Loughrea

The bar says they will offer people a box to put their phone in when they are in the pub - adding that nobody from the group can access their phone until 30 minutes have gone by.

If successful, the group will get a complimentary drink.

Owner Gary Kilcar says people use their phones too much, and they are forgetting to socialise.