Dublin pub The Bernard Shaw is to close its doors next month after 13 years.

The announcement was made by the pub's owners yesterday, but the exact reason for the closure was not confirmed.

Many have taken to social media to complain that Dublin's cultural spaces are steadily being replaced by hotels, and that the soul of the city has been lost.

Is The Bernard Shaw just another pub, or a cultural institution?

What impact are such venue closures having on our cities, and on rural Ireland?

Aoife Barry, assistant news editor with thejournal.ie, and author and jorunalist Frank McDonald joined us to discuss this.

Listen to the interview in full by pressing the play button on this page.