Limerick village in good spirits as a community-owned bar moves step closer
‘Revive our pub, reconnect our village’ is the motto of the committee set up in Herbertstown
SPIRITS are high that a second pub in County Limerick owned and run by locals will be open in plenty of time of Christmas.
Geddies Bar in Herbertstown, which was run by Ger Wright for a number of decades, closed earlier this year following his retirement. It is the last pub in the village.
Described as “a loyal friend to this parish”, a new committee, who are putting their hands in their pockets, want to continue Ger’s good work.
Local residents Fred O’Connell and Pat Dooley spearheaded a committee, under the Herbertstown Revival Association, to purchase, refurbish and reopen the pub.
Their motto is, “Revive our pub, reconnect our village” and there is still time for more people to get involved.
They have got valuable advice from the syndicate of locals in Kilteely who purchased Ahern’s Pub - also the last one in the village - and ensured the doors stayed open last year with great success.
Renamed The Street Bar, the story garnered local, national and international attention and inspired a documentary by an Oscar-nominated director.
Group director of REA Dooley Group, Mr Dooley said they just made a decision that they would do their best to try and emulate the success of Kilteely.
"Because once the last village pub closes, that’s it, you’ll never get it back. When a village loses its pub, it loses a big part of its life,” said Mr Dooley.
The auctioneer and estate agent told the Leader that the sale officially closed on Thursday, October 15 and renovations started on the following day.
“The whole premises is being remodelled, including moving the bar, to make it a family-friendly establishment that caters for all,” said Mr Dooley.
There are currently 50 people involved and he says they are keeping the syndicate open while renovations continue.
“There are shareholding amounts of €10,000 and €5,000. For example, it could be five people who pay €1,000 each. We have builders, farmers, tradesmen, every walk of life, male and female, all ages - it is open to all,” said Mr Dooley.
Contact Mr Dooley or any of the committee to get more information on becoming part of the syndicate.
“There is great positivity around it. On the night the sale was completed we had some celebratory drinks in the pub before work started the following day,” said Mr Dooley.
The watering hole will be called The Arch Bar, which dates back to its name in the 1970s and 1980s.
It is hoped the doors will be open by the end of November so people from Herbertstown will be able to toast Christmas and ring in the New Year in their local village.
For more, see The Arch Bar’s Facebook page.