Is your local at risk? Tipperary pubs in crisis with 164 Closures since 2005

The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has released a report highlighting a worrying trend in the Irish pub scene: a sharp decline in the number of pubs nationwide.

Since 2005, Ireland has lost 2,054 pubs, with Tipperary alone seeing the closure of 164 establishments over this period.

The report detailed analysis of pub closures on a county-by-county basis. Tipperary ranks among the counties most affected, with a 31.2% decline in pub numbers, closely following Limerick (35.6%), Roscommon (31.9%), and Cork (31.4%).

The national average decline stands at 24%, underscoring the severity of the situation in Tipperary.

Between 2019 and 2023, Tipperary saw 40 pubs close, representing a 9.9% decrease during this period alone. This trend reflects a broader national pattern, with an average of 114 pubs closing each year over the past 18 years.

Alarmingly, the rate of closures has accelerated in the last five years, with an average of 144 pubs shutting their doors annually.

The economic analysis conducted by Professor Anthony Foley, Associate Professor Emeritus at Dublin City University, underpins the report.

Foley points to societal changes, shifts in alcohol consumption, and increasing business costs as key factors driving the closures. He notes that rural areas, including those in Tipperary, are particularly hard hit.

"Fostering commercial sustainability is crucial to safeguarding rural Irish pubs," Foley commented. "Ireland’s drinks and hospitality businesses are operating in an environment where the costs of doing business are ever rising, and many small, family-run pubs are finding it harder to survive."

The report also highlights the significant financial pressures facing pub and restaurant owners. A recent survey of nearly 600 establishments found that almost one in four had seen their business costs increase by 20-30% over the last two years.

An additional 15% reported cost increases of over 40%.

Despite the challenging environment, the report suggests that with the right government support, the industry could stabilize and even grow.

A reduction in excise rates, for example, could enable 23% of business owners to refurbish their premises, 18% to hire more staff, and 13% to invest in new offerings such as food or accommodation.

The DIGI report calls for urgent action to support the drinks and hospitality sector, particularly in rural areas like Tipperary as the trend of pub closures looks set to continue, with further impacts on local economies and social life.