Tipp lost 26 pubs last year
Study shows 150 licensed premises closed in county since 2005
A Drinks Industry Group of Ireland analysis has shown an alarming rate of Irish pub decline of 22.5% (1,937 pubs) since 2005.
An average of 114 pubs a year are closing their doors across the country, rising to 152 per year since 2019, with disproportionate impact in more rural areas.
There has been a decrease in pubs in every county, with 150 closures in County Tipperary – 26 of these pubs closed in 2022.
The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) report, which was published last week, has shown a continuing decline in the number of pubs across Ireland, with the rate of decline accelerating since Covid-19. DIGI says this decrease sparks concern about the future sustainability of many other businesses in the industry.
The latest data shows an additional 108 pubs closed in 2022, with closures in County Tipperary accounting for 26. Over 450 pubs nationally have closed in the period since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic with the greatest decreases seen in more rural parts of the country compared with Dublin. Analysis also established that the rate of closures has accelerated in the aftermath of Covid-19, with 349 pubs closing in 2020 and 2021.
CONTINUED DECLINE OF RURAL PUBS
Although all 26 counties experienced a decline in the number of public houses during the 2005 to 2022 period, the lowest decrease was in Dublin at 3.4%. The largest decrease was seen in Limerick with 32% less pubs in the county since 2005. Roscommon (30.3%), Cork (29.9%) and Laois (29.9%) saw the next largest decreases, with a further eight counties all showing the closure of more than a quarter (25%) in the number of pubs: Offaly (28.7%), Leitrim (28.6%), Tipperary (28.6%), Mayo (27.8%), Longford (26.5%), Donegal (26.3%), Clare (25.7%) and Waterford (25.4%).
DIGI says the data shows the number of closures disproportionately impacts more regional counties and areas outside of urban centres – such as Dublin and the immediate surrounding counties.
According to an economic and social analysis of the numbers found in the DIGI report, economist Anthony Foley notes that while public houses play a particularly important role in contributing to the communities in Ireland’s towns, villages and rural areas, smaller local markets and populations mean many pubs in regional counties operate on tight margins marking them more at-risk of closure. The 6,680 pubs operating across the country are at the cultural and social heart of their communities, supporting social relationships and community cohesion and social capital, reducing the risk of isolation - according to Foley.
His analysis also cites the significance of pubs to Irish tourism as providing an extensive network of facilities and services. The importance of public houses as a factor for tourism is most notable in more rural counties including Kerry (with 413 pubs), Cork (856), Donegal (334), Mayo (337) and Leitrim (100).
Commenting, Kathryn D’Arcy, Chair of DIGI and Communications and Corporate Affairs Director at Irish Distillers, said: “The analysis in this report paints a stark picture of a sector that is fighting against continued decline due to a number of significant external pressures – many of which are outside of our control.”
She added: “We must create a sustainable operating environment for the sector and particularly those in more rural parts of the country who are being disproportionately impacted by Government policy. To address this challenge, DIGI are calling on Government to deliver a reduction in Ireland’s extremely high excise duties which would make an immediate, positive difference to the hundreds of small businesses in our sector struggling to stay open.”