2025>2026 year-on-year Revenue register comparison

The licencing year for pubs (and all liquor licences) runs from October to September, not January to December, for reasons I do not know and have never looked up. But considering the financial year used to start in April, and annual leave years still legally do; it may just be some legacy oddity we are left with

Anyway, this means that the October published register - which is to end of September - is the one to use to get the closest to reality list of liquor licences. If you pull the November list, you will be missing hundreds of premises - and I have seen some bonkers claimed numbers of pubs in Dublin or Ireland that are clearly based on early year lists. And most years, I remember to publish a year-on-year comparison of pure numbers, and also use this to prune closed premises from both my personal list, and my public maps.

It should be noted that some premises may be trading and not listed due to admin errors, or long-running deferrals of renewals; but they will rarely (I can name exceptions of close to a decade...) be missing for more than a year. 

2025's October Revenue list had 978 premises in County Dublin, and 2026's has 981. I have often forgotten to put this number in the year-on-year post, but checking old posts shows 953 in 2022 and 969 in 2023; so the trend of a slight increase in total licenced premises continues. However, it must be noted that most new openings in this time period are hotels; so really the number of conventional pubs continues to creep downwards

Premises which did not renew in the 2024/5 licencing year, and which are not trading, and as such will be removed from my personal list and marked as red on the map, are:

1001203 - Fern & Co, Stepaside - closed for some years
1003994 - TGI Fridays, Fleet Street - closed and due to be changed to a Popeyes Chicken, without a bar. I had visited this premises.
1014208 - The Baths, Clontarf - closed for some years
DG0490 - Caffe Italiano, Skerries - closed and being converted to housing
N0002 - Madigans, Connolly Station - closed, allegedly becoming a Taco Bell. I had visited this premises
N0138 - The Brook, Clontarf - closed and being converted to housing
N2081 - Ripley Court Hotel, Talbot Street - bar being converted to more rooms
N2123 - The Living Room, Cathal Brugha Street - being converted in to the bar of the Holiday Inn Express which already has its own licence. I had visited both of these premises.
S3276 - Red Cow Hotel, Clondalkin - hotel not open to the public in recent years.
S3504 - Tramco, Rathmines - not traded for years, comes and goes off the register as plans progress to rebuild and reopen as a hotel
S4253 - Flying Duck, Dundrum - closed. I have visited this premises.

Additionally, a cross-check against my own list for licences I had left standing there has found one other to be trimmed:

S4187 Ukiyo, Exchequer Street - had left this here despite non-renewal as I assumed Madame Pho would use the licence. Madame Pho does not appear to sell alcohol, and certainly cannot claim to be a theatre as Ukiyo was licenced (due to its karaoke pods). I have visited this premises. 

 

This leaves me at 944/999 on my register; with 34 marked as some form of impossible - nearly all that the premises is not actually open at all, or trades in a completely atypical manner.

The Fate Of The Irish Pub - 24 years of change to a not very random selection

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! 

October 2026 Revenue register update

Not a substantial update this month

Renumbered:

1023372 House Dublin, Leeson Street - previously S2818

Revisited Pubs, September 2026

Slightly smaller list this normal month - had other things to do!

S4236 RDS Arena - maybe? - see previous writeup for how it not entirely certain if this uses the stadium licence or a temp licence; but unlike previous eras of the beer festival where Madigans appeared on the card statements, this time it's the RDS.
S3467 Vicar Street, Thomas Street
S3103 The Christchurch, High Street
S0026 Lincolns Inn, Lincoln Place

N0006 Brew Dock, Amiens Street

S0077 Nearys, Chatham Street

S3840 Lynotts, Meath Street (last written up as Graingers The Fountain)

S1465 Dudleys, Thomas Street

S4905 The Bank, Dame Street

S4530 Turks Head, Parliament Street - first time in a very long time, but not long enough for a re-write. It's changed... a lot - but still not enough for a rewrite 

S3178 Street 66, Parliament Street

Revisit 22 years on: 1011804 The Bridge 1859

I last visited this pub about three weeks before my 18th birthday, and as I'm now approaching my 40th; that makes this the first 22 year revisit writeup. 

And quite possibly the last, as there's only one other 2005 and a handful of 2006's on my list, with nothing from 2007 and three from 2008 making up the entire rest of the more than 18 years since last visit category right now; and I don't think it'll take til 2030 to get those revisited.

I don't remember much of Bellamys, as it was back then, other than I was served here - during the Young Scientist exhibition in the very nearby RDS at that. While I imagine it has calmed down since, with the general decline in youth drinking, back then at least the Young Scientist had a bit of a reputation for underage drinking at the evening events!

 

In the defence of the no longer existing operators in 2004, I have been over six foot tall since I was 13, and had full bleached blond hair at the time, which may both have dissuaded them from thinking that I could possibly be a school student.

I can't say I'm a massive fan of the current pub - it just isn't the sort of place I'd go to regularly; being a suburban rugby pub in a suburb I will never afford to live in.

1010642 Odeon Cinema Blanchardstown

Another cinema. Another Odeon where the food/drink sales are before any ticket checks (and indeed, there weren't any) so you could probably tick this off without going to a film..

I did, though. Luckily there were three recent releases I wanted to see! 

This is another cinema I had been to before - a lot, actually. This was the closest modern cinema to my house growing up, and my parents particularly disliked the fleapit that was closer, so this is where I saw lots of stuff as a kid. 

Ster (now Vue) in Liffey Valley opened up closer, but with the Blanchardstown Centre just being a nicer place to shop back then, and I continued being brought here; and also driving here myself once I was old enough.

Despite probably having seen at least 30 films here since I was an adult, they only added the limited bar sales more recently (bottled beer and cider, premix G&T cans, wine), so I had never imbibed here previously. 

Two licenced cinemas left, both quite new and neither of which I've ever been in (although I did operate an outside broadcast on the opening day of one of them!).

August Revenue register update

Another month of nothing - the only changes of any note are an address clarification for one premises!