Two Pubs a Week Are Now Closing In Ireland
Image Credits: Victor Clime
Two Pubs a Week Are Now Closing In Ireland
Text: Izzy Copestake
A new report reveals that one in four Irish pubs have shut their doors since 2005
Ireland’s pub culture is under threat, and it’s hitting rural communities the hardest. A new report reveals that one in four Irish pubs have shut their doors since 2005, with around two closing every single week.
The study, by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), has found that over 2,100 pubs have disappeared in the last two decades. And the trend is far from over, up to 1,000 more could shut within ten years due to rising costs, economic pressure, and shifting social habits.
Cork, Limerick, and Offaly have seen the steepest declines, losing nearly a third of their pubs. Cork alone dropped from 1,221 pubs in 2005 to just 822 last year. Meanwhile, Limerick now has only 300 pubs compared to 478 two decades ago. Dublin, by contrast, has remained relatively steady, highlighting the rural-urban divide in the survival of these social hubs. The report argues that a 10% cut in alcohol excise in Budget 2026 would give struggling pubs some much-needed breathing room and show that the Government is serious about backing the sector. Whether that actually happens, though, is another question.
With rents climbing and living spaces getting tighter, people need welcoming places outside the home to relax and connect with friends. Pubs have long served as those essential third spaces, and as more shut down, especially in rural areas, communities are left with fewer places to simply be together.
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