Popular business in Limerick closes after more than a century of trading
Owner's retirement sees Imperial Bar sold to Land Development Agency
A POPULAR pub which has served generations of people on the city’s southside has closed following the retirement of its owner.
The final pints have been pulled at the Imperial Bar in Upper Carey’s Road, with the premises being sold prior to auction by GVM Auctioneers.
Proprietor Foncie McCoy confirmed the news in a statement on social media website Facebook.
He paid tribute to staff and customers whose “friendship, laughter, and stories have made this place what it is.”
Staff past and present were also recognised for their hard work and standing by Mr McCoy on both busy nights and quiet days.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he added.
“And to my friends and family, thank you for your constant support and encouragement. It’s been an incredible journey and an honour to serve the community here in Limerick,” he added.
The pub has been open for more than a century, but Mr McCoy took it on 35 years ago.
Limerick Live understands the premises has been sold for in the region of €450,000 to the Land Development Agency, a Government body involved in the development of hundreds of houses around Colbert station.
Local Vintners Federation of Ireland representative Eamonn O’Rahilly, of the nearby Spotted Dog, described the closure as: “another brick taken out of the community.”
“It's a shocking loss of a community pub on the periphery of Limerick. It’s a devastating loss in terms of trading for the community pub scene. The shadow of doom is over the pub scene at the moment,” he said, referencing the Christmas Eve closure of Crew Brew in Thomas Street.
Tom Crosse of GVM Auctioneers was unable to comment when contacted by Limerick Live.