New report reveals 74 pubs have closed in Waterford since 2005 with high decline across country

County Waterford has seen a large decline in the number of pubs in towns across the county, according to new research.

In Waterford 74 pubs have closed since 2005 in total and new research now indicates that up to a further 1,000 pubs could close over the coming decade across the country.

Waterford alone has seen a 28.5% decline in pubs since 2005 and according to DIGI ( Drinks Industry Group of Ireland) the main reason for the closures are down to the high cost of business.

Author Professor Tony Foley said: “This report reveals a pattern of pub closures across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland in recent years. The addition of profound economic uncertainty through US trade tariffs and reduced levels of inbound tourism further threaten the financial foundations of family-owned pubs across the country. In the absence of government intervention, we are likely to see a further 600 to 1,000 pubs close over the coming decade.”  

DIGI secretary, Donall O’Keeffe said: “More than 100 pubs are closing every year in Ireland, due in large part to the high costs imposed by the State. Without immediate intervention, up to 1,000 more pubs will close for the last time, leaving their communities without a vital community and tourism hub. Once closed, such pubs rarely re-open."

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"The Government could improve commercial viability overnight by cutting excise by 10%. With Irish consumption of alcohol having fallen to average EU levels, and likely to continue dropping, it is no longer justifiable that pubs should be faced with the second-highest excise rates in Europe. This is on top of a hefty 23% VAT rate. The time for the Government to act is now before it is too late.”

Between 2005 and 2024 the number of publican licenses declined from 8,617 to 6,498 across Ireland.

Ireland has seen average pub closures of 112 per year with average annual closures of 128 between 2019 and 2024.

The rate of closure highest in rural counties, with Limerick, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, Laois, Longford and Mayo recording closure rates of over 30% between 2005 and 2024, according to DIGI's new report.