A high number of pubs have closed in Leitrim since 2005, a recent report has revealed.

A high number of pubs have closed in Leitrim since 2005, a recent report has revealed. 

A new report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs in Ireland, with 2,119 - or one in four - closing their doors since 2005. 

The research indicated that up to a further 1000 pubs around the country could close over the coming decade and on average, there were 112 closures per year.

Between 2005 and 2024 the number of publican licenses declined from 8,617 to 6,498, a decline of 24.6% with average annual closures of 128 between 2019 and 2024 and rate of closure was highest in rural counties.

READ MORE: Writing her way home: Leitrim woman turns pain into purpose through children’s book

DIGI said the high cost of doing business was a major contributory factor and that without immediate action by  the Government many villages and small towns will soon lose their last remaining pub.

Cllr Enda McGloin, who was a publican himself a number of years ago, said that it's all about embracing change when it comes to keeping the pub industry alive. 

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Cllr McGloin said that he has some experience in the trade and also owned a fast food outlet for twenty years. 

He said that for pubs which only serve alcohol, it's a challenge to continue to trade successfully. "Many of those pubs have limited opening hours - the only open in the evening times - and in wintertime during the months of October, November, January, February, it can be a challenge."

READ MORE: Emergency preparedness handbook planned for every household in Leitrim

He continued that to face this challenge many pubs now serve food as well as alcohol. "Those that offer food are almost a restaurant first and a pub second. Here in Drumshanbo, we have Henry's Have and The ClubHouse in Dromahair who do a very strong business. Gurns Milestone Pub in Manorhamilton offers food too."

He said that pub culture in Ireland has changed significantly and that it's important for any business to "continue reinventing themselves; you can't stand still. In the 1970s, people drank during the day and drink was so much cheaper than it is now and drinking and driving rules were a lot different; you could drive with a few drinks and now there's a zero tolerance on that and that's the way it should be." 

READ MORE: RTÉ doc shines spotlight on Leitrim hurler Zak Moradi’s journey from Iraq

Cllr McGloin noted that there were also much fewer off-licences in Ireland twenty or thirty years ago. "You couldn't get alcohol in places like supermarkets but now you can get it in a lot of places. The growth in offsales is massive; you could have a couple with a heavy mortgage and have childcare bills and entertain themselves. They'll get a bottle of wine, a takeaway and maybe watch Netflix - that's their new pub." 

He said that years ago, men could be out in the pub from 7pm to 1pm and more recently, the "wife and husband went to the pub and spent all night there and then on to somewhere to dance but the world has changed now. If you talk to 50 people in Leitrim and various agents you will see a trend moving away from the pub."

He added that Ireland has "less of a problem with alcohol than we had years ago; you'll always unfortunately have people who have a problem with alcohol the same way someone has a problem with cocaine or any other recreational drugs but I think overall, there are less people drinking alcohol than there was per capita."

He said that drinking at home has become a popular alternative to going to the local pub. "Young people before they go out, will drink in somebody's house and when they go out, they won't drink as much because of the expense of it. Off licences have dictated much of where pubs are today, in my view."

He said that in order to survive, publicans need to look at emerging trends and make attempts to adapt accordingly. "Any business needs to be changing and evolving with that change in drinking statistics we are seeing."

READ MORE: Leitrim remains Ireland’s most depopulated county, meeting hears

He said that if the trend continues, the "only pubs that will be left are those that have a very decent offering of food and entertainment. You drive through any town at 11pm and the local pub is dead. I had a takeaway for over 20 years and it used to be that between 11.30pm and 12.30am was your busy time but now that's no longer the case; the rush hour is maybe at teatime for takeaways."

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.  

Commenting on the report, author Professor Tony Foley said that "profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs and reduced levels of inbound tourism further threaten the financial foundations of family-owned pubs across the country."

READ MORE: Permission sought for new tourist hostel in centre of Leitrim town

Commenting on the report, DIGI secretary, Donall O’Keeffe said the Government could improve commercial viability "overnight by cutting excise by 10%. With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average EU levels, and likely to continue dropping, it is no longer justifiable that pubs should be faced with the second-highest excise rates in Europe. This is on top of a hefty 23% VAT rate.”