'It isn’t for the lack of trying': Nearly 200 pubs close in Limerick in just 20 years
The decrease in the number of pubs in Limerick was the sharpest in the country, ahead of Offaly where there was a 34% decline.
NEW figures compiled on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) show there was a 40% decrease in the number of public houses operating in Limerick between 2005 and 2025.
The decrease in the number of pubs in Limerick was the sharpest in the country, ahead of Offaly where there was a 34% decline.
According to the figures, 192 Limerick pubs closed their doors for good over the 20 year period.
Commenting on the data, Eamonn O'Rahilly, owner of The Spotted Dog pub in Limerick city, said no single issue can be blamed for the closures in Limerick and across the country.
“It isn’t for the lack of trying. Limerick has excellent pubs and venues.
“It has to be socio-economic. The drinks industry has always been dependent on disposable income. It’s a reflection of how the cost of living is going up, and it’s a sure sign that disposable income has gone down in the last 20 years,” said Mr O’Rahilly, who is chairperson of the Limerick branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
Another factor, he feels, is the increasing minimum wage, which is leaving pub owners unable to keep staff.
He also feels that taxation has had a serious impact on the viability of pubs, pointing to Spain’s significantly lower excise duties.
“The government keeps going to the well of the self-employed thinking there’s a bottomless pot to draw from… but it’s getting dry.”
DIGI has also called for a cut to Ireland’s excise duty, which is the second highest in the EU behind Finland.
A total of 72 closures have been reported across Limerick since 2019, with the Covid-19 pandemic having a serious impact on the local pub trade.
In August, House Limerick became one of the latest pubs to close in Limerick, resulting in the loss of nearly 60 jobs.
In contrast, the announcement by Costello’s Tavern, which closed in March 2020, confirming its upcoming return to Limerick nightlife sparked excitement around the city, and Eamonn O’Rahilly feels that local pub owners have maintained their positivity.
He shared that events like Twilight Thursday and Dolan’s Live at the Docklands keep publicans hopeful.
Nationwide, there has been a 25.6% reduction in the number of public houses operating. One out of every four pubs operating twenty years ago has permanently shuttered, falling at a steady pace of 110 closures on average per year.
DIGI predicts this issue will get worse within the coming years.
“Without targeted intervention, economic modelling indicates that between 600 and 1,000 additional pubs are projected to close over the coming decade under the weight of penal taxes, escalating overheads, broader economic volatility, and shifting consumer habits,” said Anthony Foley, Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at Dublin City University.