There has been a 26 per cent drop in the number of pubs doing business in Donegal since 2005, according to a new report.
The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) survey reveals there are 119 fewer pubs in the county over that period.
The situation here reflects a stark decline in the number of bars throughout the country over the last 16 years.
The Irish Pub: Stopping the Decline report, based on the group’s analysis of Revenue license data and including an economic and social analysis by Dublin City University (DCU) economist Anthony Foley, shows a 21.2% decline in the number of pubs in Ireland from 2005 to 2021.
All 26 counties experienced declines in pub numbers through the period.
The largest decrease was seen in Laois with 30.6% less pubs since 2005. This was the only county with a decrease of 30% or more.
The lowest decrease was in Meath with 1.4% less. Meath was followed by Dublin, reporting a decrease of only 4.3%. All the remaining 23 counties had decreases greater than 10%.
Three counties, Carlow (10.4%), Kildare (13.6%), and Wicklow (10.1%) showed decreases between 10% and 14.9% and, five counties, Cavan (17.2%), Kerry (15.3), Kilkenny (18.1%), Monaghan (19.8%), and Wexford (17.2%) were in the 15% to 19.9% decrease bracket.
All the remaining counties had decreases of more than 20%. Six counties, Clare (24.7%), Galway (20.6%), Louth (20.3%), Sligo (24%), Waterford (23.5%), and Westmeath (24.4%) were in the 20% to 24.9% decrease band.
Nine counties: Cork (28.5%), Donegal (26.3%), Leitrim (26.4%), Limerick 29.1%), Longford (25.7%), Mayo (25.1%), Offaly (29.9%), Roscommon (28.3%), and Tipperary (26.3%) saw decreases between 25% and 29.9%.
The report highlights that many public houses operate at relatively low levels of sales volume.
One of the factors which influence business sustainability at these low sales volumes is the high Irish alcohol excise level which represents a significant cost on the business, the report stated.
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