Over a quarter of Waterford pubs close in just two decades
At least 64 Waterford pubs have ceased operations since 2005, with 185 currently operating in the county
The number of pubs operating in Waterford has decreased by more than a quarter over the past two decades, new figures have revealed.
Data compiled on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) has shown there has been 28.8% decrease in the number of public houses operating across the Deise since 2005.
Between 2005 and 2025, 64 Waterford pubs closed their doors for good.
In response to national closures, DIGI has called for a cut to Ireland’s excise duty, which is the second highest in the EU behind Finland.
Over 30 closures have happened in the county since 2019, with the Covid-19 pandemic having a serious impact on Waterford’s pub trade.
Nationwide, there has been a 25.6% reduction in the number of public houses operating. One out of every four pubs operating twenty years ago has permanently shuttered, falling at a steady pace of 110 closures on average per year.
All counties in the Republic of Ireland have seen a decline in the number of pubs operating year-on-year.
DIGI predicts this issue will get worse within the coming years.
“Without targeted intervention, economic modelling indicates that between 600 and 1,000 additional pubs are projected to close over the coming decade under the weight of penal taxes, escalating overheads, broader economic volatility, and shifting consumer habits,” said Anthony Foley, Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at Dublin City University.