A new report shows a rapid decline in the number of pubs in Ireland, with 2,205 premises, one in four, closing their doors since 2005.
The report, compiled by economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, for the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), shows that an average of 110 pubs stopped trading every year over the last two decades.
All 26 southern counties experienced declines in pub numbers over the 2005 to 2025 period.
The highest decrease was in Limerick (-37%), followed by Offaly (-34%), Cork (-33%), Roscommon (-32%), Tipperary (-32%), Laois (-31%), Longford (-30%) and Westmeath (-30%).
The lowest decrease was in Dublin with a drop of 1%, followed by Wicklow with a decrease of 9%.
Meath had a decrease of 11% and all other counties saw a 13% or greater decrease.
The number of pubs which closed their doors last year was 86, up from 65 in 2024, but down from 117 in 2023.
The report was commissioned by DIGI, which has called for the Government to use the upcoming budget to cut excise on alcohol which it says is the second highest in the European Union.
Commenting on the report, author Prof Foley said: “It is likely that pub closures will continue in the absence of any change in Government policy.
“Even in the absence of additional significant economic shocks, an optimistic scenario would expect about 600 additional closures in the next decade from 2024.
“More pessimistic expectations would increase the closure level to 1,000.”
