The objective of this report, which was commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), is to identify and examine the long-term decline in the number of public houses in Ireland over the period 2005 to 2024, at both national and sub-national levels. This report updates previous similar reports on the same topic published by DIGI. 

The data source is the database/register of alcohol licences compiled by the Revenue Commissioners. This individual register has been analysed for several years by the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) to identify county and national trends for public house licences.

Between 2005 and 2024 the number of publican licences declined from 8,617 to 6,498, a decline of 2,119 or 24.6%. One in four of the public houses in 2005 no longer exist in 2024.