Curtains up for new pilot scheme in Bawnboy pub

CINEMA Pubs to be reimagined as community hubs

A Bawnboy bar is set to screen movies during quiet times as it hosts a community cinema under a new ‘Pubs as Community Hubs’ pilot programme.

The Keepers Arms welcomed Minister Heather Humphreys to West Cavan as she sought to replicate the success of a similar scheme run in the UK.

‘Pubs as Community Hubs’ is designed to utilise pubs during quiet trading times as digital hubs, community cinemas, book clubs, arts and crafts workshops and community meeting spaces.

Funding of €50,000 has been provided to the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which selected the Keepers Arms and four other pubs - in Clare, Cork, Donegal and Kerry. If the pilot proves a success it will be expanded to other parts of the Republic.

Sheila and Bryan McKiernan, are the proprietors of The Keeper’s Arms in Bawnboy. Sheila outlined their plans to install a community cinema under the new initiative:

“We hope that the cinema will cater in particular for elderly people during the daytime.

“The nearest cinema in Cavan Town is almost 40kms away so we think there will be strong demand from the local community.

“We’re going to be using funding from the pilot programme to secure a projector and screen, new cinema seating and black-out blinds.

“I’ve spoken to local community organisations who fully intend to support the cinema. The general view is that the cinema will promote local community integration and assist with combating rural isolation.

“Ireland is changing but through initiatives like this the pub can still be at the heart of rural communities – sometimes it just take a little bit of thinking outside the box.”

Minister Humphreys described the local pub as "part of the fabric of rural Ireland".

“In recent years our rural pubs have faced challenges and those challenges were exacerbated further during the pandemic.

“Through the “Pubs as Community Hubs” initiative, we want to see how rural pubs can diversify during quiet trading times by acting as community cinemas, book clubs and meeting spaces for local community groups.”

Minister Humphreys continued: “A similar concept is already being rolled out in parts of the UK – it sees pubs being utilised as digital hubs, community cafes, arts and crafts workshops, libraries and markets for local food producers.

“The possibilities are endless, but the goal is simple – supporting our rural pubs so that they can continue to be a focal point in our rural communities where friends and neighbours can gather for a range of services and activities into the future.”

Welcoming the initiative, CEO of Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, Padraig Cribben added: “Upon completion these pilot projects will offer a roadmap for our members as they navigate the coming challenges and opportunities faced by the rural hospitality sector.”