Pub licence number still 'tipsy'

The number of pubs in Ireland continues to decline with one in four, or 2,119, having closed their doors since 2005, a newly commissioned industry report has shown.

However, the reality might be much more grim, suggests one local publican, who says the numbers do not reflect public houses closed but where the licence is still live.

Brendan Fay, owner of The Widow’s Bar in Belturbet, gave his own hometown as an example. He said Belturbet has four pubs, including his own, that open seven days per week and one other that opens Wednesday to Sunday. Yet there are more than double the number of licences still in existence for the Erneside town, which once had 18 licensed premises open.

He is in no doubt the anomaly is replicated in other towns and villages across the county and indeed the country and said as much when speaking on the subject at the July monthly meeting of Cavan County Council.

His comments specifically referenced the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) report, which claims there are 47 (21.3%) fewer pubs in County Cavan since 2005. The research, compiled by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, furthermore indicates that up to a further 1,000 pubs could close over the coming decade. DIGI state that between 2005 and 2024, the number of publican licenses declined from 8,617 to 6,498, a decline of 24.6%. There has, they add, been an average of 112 pub closures per year, a national trend that only accelerated in recent years with Covid taken into account (128 between 2019-24).

All 26 counties experienced declines in pub numbers over the 2005 to 2024 period, with rate of closure hitting hardest in rural counties- with Limerick (-37.2%) followed by Offaly (-34.1%) Cork (-32.7%), Roscommon (-32.3%), Tipperary (-32.0%), Laois (-30.6%), Longford (-30.1%) and Westmeath (-30.0%).

Dad of two Cllr Fay’s blunt assessment was he wouldn’t let his own sons take over the business given the current decline in the industry and growing pressures brought about as a direct result of increased costs.

“They won’t be taking it over because I won’t let them,” said Cllr Fay, remarking as he has done in the past that it is his strong held belief that the government will be “giving out grants for pop-up pubs” in areas left with none.

He made his comments in response to a motion tabled by Independent Ireland’s Shane P O’Reilly who called on the council to lobby government to do something about what he described as the “exorbitant” costs faced by pubs and clubs to show live sports events.

He lambasted providers such as Sky and others who he said charge premium fees of up to €1,600 per month.

He said such bills on an already embattled sector struggling to pay rates, staff and utilities was “chronic” and “hard to justify”.

To lose the last remaining pub would be a devastating blow to the economic and social fabric of that community, said Cllr O’Reilly who then rounded on the GAA and its own newly-launched subscription service.

Publicans, Cllr O’Reilly stated, provide a “key public service” in how they afford an opportunity for members of the community to come together.

Cllr O’Reilly said he knows a publican recently fined €17,000 after being caught showing matches without a paid subscription. That outcome he continued was “nonsense” and went on to suggest that the judiciary should play a role in bringing some semblance of reality to the situation. “What’s happening is ridiculous. It’s a mortgage to show a lock of soccer on the telly.”

Reacting, Cllr Fay took umbrage with a range of other costs publicans face. He himself spoke of having received a bill for €13,000 from IMRO from 2022 for having had live music play at the venue.

With regards to Sky and other digital entertainment providers, Cllr Fay highlighted that €40M was to be spent hiring solicitors and others to check pubs to see if subscriptions were being paid and cracking down on people using so-called dodgy boxes. He told the July council meeting that the €40M could be “better spent” lowering the cost on businesses. “It’s no surprise people are using dodgy boxes.”

Newly installed Aontú councillor, Adrian Rogers, who operates The Bridge Tavern, a bar and restaurant in Canningstown, has been in the trade for the past 17 years.

Speaking to the Celt after, Cllr Rogers pointed to where the two pubs closest to him - The Hideout and Mountainlodge - have both closed yet the licences still exist.

Meanwhile, DIGI has called for the Government to use the upcoming Budget to introduce a 10% cut in excise, which currently stands as the second highest in the European Union. Cllr Rogers supports the call.

“Absolutely. They’re trying to get it down. Definitely, without something done, you’ll have a lot more closing than there already is.”