Publicans ‘call time’ as six hostelries in Limerick and Clare are put up for sale

THERE will be many “chasers” of deals to purchase six local pubs that have been put up for sale in recent weeks.

Gordon Kearney, managing director of Rooney Auctioneers, has brought the sextet of watering holes to the market.

The Black Swan, Davis Street,  and Imperial Bar, Upper Carey’s Road in Limerick city, and Reddan’s Bar, Killaloe, Nuala’s bar and restaurant, Tuamgraney, and Stritch’s pub, Clonlara in County Clare are all trading and being sold as going concerns. The only closed one is the pub at Westbury Shopping Centre.

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Mr Kearney said the common thread linking the five open pubs is that the current owners are reaching a point in their lives when it is time to take a step back.

“They’re all heading towards retirement by and large. They have made a great business out of their pubs over the last 10, 20, 30 years . 

“It's not as if any of the pubs aren't doing good trade, they all are doing exceptionally good trade. We have accounts for all the pubs that are trading to show that the trade is still there and they're all profitable. These people are just getting to the end of their career and are looking for the next generation to step in,” said Mr Kearney.

All the pubs have different dynamics, he says. He stresses the advantages of attached accommodation either for the new owner to live in, for staff or rent out as a second income.

“The owner of the Imperial has expanded it over the years. It has an incredible function room, bar, lounge, with potential residential accommodation overhead, and a fantastic beer garden. 

“Nuala’s is a huge operation with a bar and restaurant, full commercial kitchen, huge yard, and a three bedroom apartment overhead. Reddan's is a real olde world pub, potential for accommodation overhead and beautiful beer garden out the back.

“The Black Swan has a beautiful apartment on the first floor and the old railway hotel nearby has full plans for 116 bed student accommodation. Stritch’s is another lovely olde world pub in a commuter village of the city with a house attached to it so you're buying a pub and a house.

"The pub in Westbury with a function room is in a huge suburb that is only going to only become more and more populated particularly when the Northern Relief Road is extended,” said Mr Kearney.

Offers in the region of €450,000 for Stritch’s, €650,000 for Nuala’s, €450,000 for Reddan’s and €750,000 for the pub in Westbury will be considered. The Black Swan and Imperial are prices on application.

“In 2024 and so far in 2025, all the pubs sold nationwide - 55% of them were bought by publicans continuing to trade and the other 45% were bought for alternative uses, so either conversion to residential or other commercial uses. Most of those that have continued to trade are in urban areas. 

“A lot of the pubs sold in rural areas were sold for alternative use - sell the liquor licence and converted to residential. The ones I have for sale - it’s unlikely that will happen. It could happen but I think they’re all viable pubs,” said Mr Kearney.

He quotes a report that has shown alcohol consumption in Ireland is now 30% lower than 20 years ago.

“Younger people’s lifestyles have changed and less and less of them are going to the pub. Pubs have to change what they're offering and it has to become more family orientated.

"Food has to be a  key part of it and you can see pubs that wouldn't normally have offered food are now introducing menus because that's bringing in the family unit who are happy to go out for a bite to eat, a few drinks and enjoy some entertainment in the pub,” said Mr Kearney.