A popular Fermanagh watering hole has sparked outrage with its latest ban on men’s brown shoes, which has got the nation talking – and here is all you need to know.

In a startling turn of events, a popular Fermanagh pub has announced a strict ban on brown shoes, which has sparked outrage in the county and further afield. Meanwhile, the rest of the rest of the country worries the ban will come to a pub near them.
While women will remain free to wear whatever they like, the ban is aimed at men, who opt for the classic brown shoe on a night out. While locals come to terms with the unfathomable restriction, we look at what this might mean for County Fermanagh and the rest of Ireland.
Here’s the story!
- A popular Fermanagh watering hole has sparked outrage with its latest ban on men’s brown shoes, which has got the nation talking – and here is all you need to know.
- The Ginger Man sparks outrage among patrons – strict bans in place
- Word spreads across Ireland – a nationwide brown shoe ban?
- The end of brown shoes? – what does this mean for men
The Ginger Man sparks outrage among patrons – strict bans in place

For over 80 years, The Ginger Man has been a popular watering hole for locals and visitors alike, but since the recent restriction on men’s brown shoes, their popularity could be on the brink of extinction.
In a recent social media post, which went viral, The Ginger Man, located in Enniskillen, announced that they were enforcing a strict ban on brown shoes, which would be put in place from 1 March 2024.
The post, which gained 3 million shares, 400,000 likes and 1 million vicious comments, has put the pub on the map for all the wrong reasons.
When explaining their reasons for the ban, owner Seamus Dunne revealed that the classic brown shoe has been out of fashion for a while now, and they want to encourage punters to up their game regarding evening dress codes.
When asked if the classic brown shoe would be accepted during the daytime, Mr Dunne revealed that brown shoes would be accepted between 3-5 pm Mondays and Wednesdays.
“We understand many of our patrons are outraged,” Dunne told reporters. “So we have dedicated a time slot to our loyal customers who would rather continue on the brown shoe bandwagon”.
Word spreads across Ireland – a nationwide brown shoe ban?

The pub, which is well known for its traditional ambience and welcoming atmosphere, has hit the spotlight, and Irish men across the country are worried their local pubs will enforce the same rule.
Fergus Donnelly, owner of The Hairy Beaver in Galway, said he wished he thought of this sooner: “I have to admit, I’m not a fan of the brown shoes myself, and believe it has an impact on the look of the pub, so I must say this clever ban is food for thought”.
Cork native Gerry Regan admitted that it would be the end of his social life if his brown shoe rights were taken away: “I won’t be caught dead in the local without me brown shoes, so this could be the end of it for me if they bring the ban down to this part of the country”.
The ban has sparked conversation across social media and made national news with a special segment airing on RTÉ, entitled ‘Is this the end of the brown shoe?’.
The end of brown shoes? – what does this mean for men

As many know, the classic brown shoe paired with blue jeans and a shirt is the go-to outfit for men out on the pull. So, what does this ban mean for the men of Ireland?
According to the comments, local men from County Fermanagh have expressed their anger and disappointment, with one man lamenting, “The Ginger Man used to be the best place to meet the ladies; now I can say goodbye to my love life”.
At the same time, another made a clever suggestion to fellow patrons: “There’s no way I’m giving up the brown shoes, lads; I’d rather cover them in plastic bags and continue as normal”, adding, “Any rules against that, lads?”.
Clearly, The Ginger Man’s brown shoe ban is a controversial topic, with many angered by the announcement. On the other hand, self-proclaimed ‘brown shoe boycotters’ are revelling in the aftermath of the “best ban of the century”.
What we know for sure is that punters who wish to continue socialising at The Ginger Man will need to source new shoes, while others across the country wait in anticipation to see if the ban reaches their local watering hole.
Only time will tell what this means for men’s social lives across the country.
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