A century ago, the County Limerick village of Kilteely had seven pubs, but one by one, they shut. This year, it braced to lose the last.
The economic and social trends that have shuttered family-run pubs across Ireland appear remorseless, leaving many communities with nowhere to meet, have a drink, and share stories.
But this week, Kilteely bucked the trend. The doomed bar reopened after 26 villagers clubbed together to buy it. “We felt we were going to be annexed into other communities if we didn’t have a place to meet and call our own,” said Liam Carroll. “So here we are, we’re publicans.”
The new owners pooled their savings and formed a syndicate to buy the pub, which otherwise faced probable demolition and conversion into accommodation.
The eclectic group – which includes a barrister, a solicitor, a pharmacist, a clinical psychologist, a carpenter, an accountant, a teacher, a signmaker, builders, farmers, and electricians – bought the bar and licence for €300,000 (£260,000) and used its varied skills to reestablish and refurbish the business.
Previously Ahern’s, the pub is now called the Street Bar, a reference to the local expression “heading up the street”, a euphemism for heading out for a pint. (Some syndicate members wanted to call it the Ambush, after a famous 1921 attack during the British-Irish war that killed 11 soldiers and police, but that was vetoed.)
It has new wiring, a cool room for beer, Sky Sports and, tucked between wine and whiskey, a sign: “Welcome to the Street Bar. A community working together in Kilteely.” Another sign lists syndicate members.
