Revealed: The county with highest pub closures at 37.2%

Limerick has recorded the biggest decline in pub numbers in Ireland over the past two decades, with more than 37% of its pubs closing between 2005 and 2025.

A new report has found that the number of pubs in Limerick fell by 37.2% during the period, the highest rate of decline among Ireland’s 26 counties.

An average of 110 pubs stopped trading each year over the two decades, with every county recording a decline.

Offaly had the second-highest rate of closures at 34.1%, followed by Cork at 32.7%, Roscommon at 32.3% and Tipperary at 32%.

Laois recorded a 30.6% decline, while pub numbers fell by 30.1% in Longford and 30% in Westmeath.

At the other end of the scale, Dublin recorded the lowest decline, with pub numbers falling by just 1.1% between 2005 and 2025. Wicklow followed with a 9.5% reduction, while Meath recorded a decline of 11.4%.

The report found that 86 pubs closed last year, an increase on the 65 closures recorded in 2024 but below the 117 closures seen in 2023.

Commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), the report has prompted calls for the Government to reduce alcohol excise duty by 10% in the upcoming Budget. Ireland currently has the second-highest excise rates on alcohol in the European Union.

Professor Foley said the decline had occurred despite significant growth in the wider Irish economy.

“Over the past 20 years, the Irish economy has grown substantially, including large employment, consumption, and adult population increases, despite multiple economic shocks and geopolitical disruption,” he said.

However, he said alcohol consumption and pub sales volumes had fallen substantially, while high taxation, rising costs and changing consumer habits were reducing the commercial viability of pubs.

“It is likely that pub closures will continue in the absence of any change in Government policy,” Professor Foley said.

He estimated that even under an optimistic scenario, around 600 more pubs could close over the next decade, with a more pessimistic outlook putting the figure as high as 1,000.

DIGI secretary Donall O’Keeffe said the decline had been a “decimation” of Ireland’s pub network, with the impact particularly significant in rural communities.

“This has been particularly damaging to the social, economic and cultural life of rural Ireland. They are also a huge loss to our tourism offer,” he said.

 An average of 110 pubs stopped trading each year over the two decades, with every county recording a decline.
DIGI is calling for an immediate 10% reduction in excise duty, arguing that current rates are placing further pressure on small, family-owned pubs.

“Current excise rates are simply unjust given Ireland’s continually falling rates of alcohol consumption,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

* This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.