Offaly pub which closed after Covid set to reopen after licence renewed

A publican's licence has been granted for the Palace Bar in Birr. Judge Keenan Johnson granted the application to Droughill Builders Ltd whose representative at Tullamore Circuit Court was Trevor Whelan.

The court was told the application was a revival of a lapsed licence which had been advertised in the Midland Tribune on March 27 last.

Marc Conroy, a Portlaoise-based architect, told the court the pub on Main Street/O'Connell Street, near Emmet Square, was a Georgian building which pre-dated the 1963 planning laws, as did its original front. A lounge had later been added at the rear.

The pub is on the ground floor and there is a cellar. The first floor will be used as a storage area. He said it was suitable for use as a licensed premises.

Counsel for the applicant said the premises had closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and a tenant had taken it over but could not get it off the ground afterwards.

The last licence had expired in September 2022.

Sergeant Richard Thornton told the court there was no garda objection to the application.

Trevor Whelan told the court he bought the pub in 2018 and he was not disqualified from holding a licence.

The court also heard he will be running the premises himself and will be visible there.

Granting the application, Judge Johnson wished the applicant the best of luck and said it was great to see a pub reopening.

Droughill Builders Ltd is registered in Portarlington and its directors are Trevor Whelan and Sinead Whelan.

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