In 2002, journalist Cian Molloy published "The Story Of The Irish Pub", a book consisting of about ninety pages of the history of pubs (and brewing) in Ireland, but two hundred pages of history of 106 individual pubs. This book was produced in collaboration with the Vintners Federation of Ireland.
These pubs specifically were all recorded at that time as having been held by the same family for >100 years. It was not, nor intended to be, an exhaustive list of every pub with this status however.
He included only one pub in Dublin - N0078 Kavanaghs / The Gravediggers in Glasnevin; which may actually be the only one in County Dublin that was >100 years in 2002 specifically; but there is also the factor that the VFI are the union for publicans outside of Dublin & Bray; so would not have members in Dublin to cover. There are however also five listings in Northern Ireland, which is also beyond the VFIs membership scope.
But how many of these survive in family ownership, nearly a quarter of a century on? Or survive at all? The last quarter century has been exceptionally hard on pubs, with estimates of a quarter to 30% of pubs closing - and as these estimates are made on raw licence numbers, which include new hotels and pubstaurants - it is likely that even higher numbers of "real pubs" have actually closed.
The book is no longer available new, and the raw list of pubs it covers isn't the biggest bit of copyright lifting around, so I'm just going to list what was there and the current state. I say "appears" to be in the family where I am getting second hand or old info, rather than a website or other solid confirmation.
If you can get or borrow a copy of the book, the stories about these pubs - on average one page, but some are up to four - are well worth the read.
Connacht
Battles, Dromore West - Closed.
Burkes, Colemanstown - open and appears to be in the family
McDermotts Castle View Bar, Castlebaldwin - open and appears to be in the family
Thomas Connolly, Sligo - open, but no longer in the family
The Country Club, Hollybrook - possibly open? Most recent publican, a Forde, appears to have died in August 2026
Cunninghams, Newbridge - open and appears to be in the family
Curleys, Portumna - open, but no longer in the family
Thomas Duignan, Drumsna - open and appears to be in the family
Green's, Kinvara - open and appears to be in the family
Keenans, Termonbarry - open and appears to be in the family
Kelehans, Bushy Park - open, but no longer in the family
Kellys, Monivea - appears to be open and in the family; poorly documented online
Kennys, Ballygar - open and celebrated 175 years in family ownership last year
McEvillys, Ballyheane - open and appears to be in the family
P. McManus, Drumshanbo - closed. Now a rental where you can have the bar stocked for you
Melletts Emporium, Swinford - open and in the family.
Millers Inn, Bunninadden - open and appears in the family
Morans Oyster Cottage, Kilcolgan - open and appears in the family
Morriseys Loughrea - open, but cannot determine ownership at all
O'Boyles, Laught - open and appears in the family
Old Stand, Ballymote - appears closed
Rabbitts, Galway - open, but no longer in the family
Rustic Vaults, Tuam - open, but no longer in the family
Sheridans, Milltown - open and appears in the family
Waldrons, Athleague - closed
Woodfield Inn, Beltra - open, appears in the family but not for long (it is for sale as of writing)
Leinster
Birthistles, Arklow - closed, since the death of the owner in early 2025
Byrne's Irish House, Kilcoole - open and appears in the family (Doyle surname, but they already had this since the 1920s due to marriage)
Byrnes, Dundalk - open and appears in the family
Comerfords Mooncoin - open and appears in the family
O'Connors, Ballitore - closed
Drurys, Ballinakill - open and appears in the family
Dunbars, Ferns - open and appears in the family
The Glenside, Killeshin - open and appears in the family
Gonouds, Tyrrellspass - open and appears in the family
Harts, Campile - open, but no longer in the family
Hayes, Urlingford - open and appears to be in the family
Humes, Portlaoise - open, but no longer in the family
Hylands, Ballacolla - open, different name, no longer in the family (verified same pub, as the book helpfully has a photo of nearly every pub)
Kavanaghs, Glasnevin - open and in the family
Larkins, Cainsbridge - appears to be open and in the family
Muldoons, Drumconrath - open and in the family. This is also a shop and filling station, and I have actually filled my van here, in a previous job; I think the only premises on the list other than Kavanaghs that I've been to!
Nallys Corner House, Ballymahon - open and appears to be in the family
O'Briens, Athy - open and in the family
O'Dwyers, Kells, Kilkenny - closed
O'Gradys, Stoneyford - open. renamed to Malzards, but this was the family name anyway.
O'Keeffes, Kilcock - closed, but in the family - this pub was burnt out in 2023 but may yet reopen.
The Real Unyoke, Blackwater - closed
The Riverview Inn, Cadamstown - closed. Was renamed to the family name, before closing in the pandemic, being auctioned in 2022 and converted to housing
The Salmon Pool, Thomastown - open and appears to be in the family
Shaws, Summerhill - open and appears to be in the family
Smyths, Newtown - closed, was for sale in 2022
Soraghans, Dundalk - open and appears to be in the family
Sycamore House, Killurin - open and appears to be in the family
Tallons, Tinahely - open and appears to be in the family
Treacys, The Heath - open and appears to be in the family
Vine Cottage Bar, Saltmills - open and appears to be in the family
M.H. White, Clara - closed. Now a doctors and a pharmacy.
Munster
Armshaws, Cappawhite - open and appears to be in the family, although there is a Property Price Register entry that would refer to accommodation portions of the pub being sold.
Ashe's, Dingle - open and in the family, but slightly refocused as a restaurant.
Barrets, Kanturk - open and appears to be in the family
Begleys, Ballydavid - open and in the family
Bohans, Feakle - closed and up for sale
Bolands, Castlegregory - open, I think, appears to be in the family; but also up for sale
Brownes, Parteen - open and in the family
Cahalanes, Skibbereen - closed
Cahills, Rathmore - closed, sold, was meant to reopen in 2024 following renovations (which have visibly begun in 2022 Streetview passes) but as yet, has not
Dessys, Ballineen - closed
P Donnellon, Kilkishen - closed. I think. This appears to still be licenced, but that is no impediment to being closed! Has looked closed on Streetview for the past 17 years.
Fitzgibbons, Fermoy - closed
Herberts, Castleconnell - open and appears to be in the family
Jacks, Newmarket - closed. A bookies by 2009, this took comparing buildings with the old photos to find
Jack C's, Killarney - open and appears to be in the family
Kirbys, Ballheigue - open and appears to be in the family
Lonergans, Fethard - open, but no longer in the family. A sales ad from 2022 is still up currently, but new owners are in place
Luceys, Bantry - closed
Albert Lynch's, Mallow - open and appears to be in the family
Mansworths, Cobh - open and appears to be in the family
McCarthys, Clonmel - closed... ish. Now a B&B and seems to be in the family, but no pub
Moroneys, Glen of Aherlow - open and appears to be in the family
JC Murphys, Macroom - open, but cannot verify ownership
Norrie O'Briens, Tipperary Town - open and appears to be in the family
O'Rourkes, Roscrea - open and appears to be in the family
O'Sullivans, Lisselton - open and appears to be in the family
O'Donovans Hotel, Clonakilty - open and in the family
Patrick Power, Clarecastle - closed and up for sale
Ramble Inn, Abbeyfeale - open and appears to be in the family
Roadside Inn, Lisdoonvarna - open and in the family
Halpins, Croom - closed, most recent owner died in June 2026; may reopen
Treacys The Nook, Youghal - open and in the family
West End, Fenit - open and in the family
Youghs, Latteragh - open and appears to be in the family
Ulster
Blakes, Derrylin - open but very recently not in the family and renamed Maguires
Blakes of the Hollow, Enniskillen - open and in the family, the same family that sold the above pub in 2026 after 139 years
Brennans The Criterion Bar, Bundornan - closed. Famous enough to have a Wikipedia page
Brittons, Pettigo - open and appears to be in the family
Dohertys, Ardara - open and appears to be in the family
Harkins, Brockagh - open and appears to be in the family
McClaffertys, Churchill - closed
McDonells, Ballycastle - open and appears to be in the family, also famous enough to have a Wikipedia page
Mones, Keady - open, appears to be in the family for now, but up for sale
O'Donnells, Meenaneary - open and appears to be in the family
O'Kanes, Randalstown - open and appears to be in the family
Rosies, Drumkeen - open, but appears to have left family ownership
Sharkeys, Annagry - open, in the family and on my target list to visit
Traynors, Shercock - open and appears to be in the family
A very basic summary - these pubs have generally fared better than the market as a whole. There is worse survival rate in Munster than the rest of ROI; I don't have good figures for NI closures but 100% of our sample have stayed open there.
One thing we can take away is that if you are looking for a representative sample, using pubs which have already proven themselves to be long-termers is probably not a good idea!
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