Locals celebrate as Kerry community group wins bid to take over village pub
Punters from one of Ireland's most remote pubs are celebrating victory after a months-long battle to save their beloved local.
Many had feared it would be last orders for the Inny Tavern (Tábhairne na hÚine) in Dromaid, after the pub's owners Humphrey Ó Conchuir and Noreen Uí Chonchuir made the difficult decision to retire.
A lack of interest from buyers on the open market might have sounded the death knell for the village of Cillín Liath which is located in Co Kerry's Iveragh peninsula. However, a community buyout — made possible by an online fundraising campaign — means the pub will now stay open indefinitely.
Described as one of Ireland's newest communities, the village was built around the local primary school, which opened in 1973 and was followed by the pub 16 years later. The pub is now set to change hands this week and will be run by and for the community.
The Inny Tavern in Dromid, Co Kerry soon to be one of Irelands First community owned pubs.Picture: Alan Landers
Forbairt na Dromoda Teo — the local community, social enterprise organisation in the Iveragh Gaeltacht — were behind the campaign to save the Inny Tavern and adjoining shop which was also run by Humphrey and Noreen. The group had raised enough funds for a deposit as well as securing a bank loan for the property.
However, there was a shortfall, and the remaining funds have now been raised through the GoFundme campaign which was launched earlier this year and has generated almost €107,500 to date. It comes two years after Humphrey and Noreen set in motion plans to sell the bar.
Originally opened by the O'Connor family in 1989, the pub has been operating in the Gaeltacht community for around 36 years.
Emir Ní Mhurchú of Forbairt na Dromada said news of the pub's survival has come as a relief to many in their community.
Areas along the western seaboard are massively struggling with issues like population decline.
"This has been a huge issue for us. Holiday homes in place of actual people coming to reside here is just one of the changes we are seeing. This has had implications on numbers in local schools and football teams. There was no way we wanted to lose our pub too.'
Emir was fulsome in her praise for donors adding: 'People came through from all over the world to support us. These were people who had emigrated to Australia but someday hope to come back.
Working in tandem Noreen and Humphrey fill their last pints at the Inny Tavern. Picture: Alan Landers
"Others living in America with families who will never come home also donated. One of the most touching letters came from former punters of a pub in Galway. They said they were absolutely devastated to lose their pub. They didn't want to see the same happen to us, which is why they were so supportive.'
She said isolation had been a huge concern for the community's residents.
'We are talking about people who lived their lives in townlands where there might have only been five or six families. Farming wasn't exactly a money spinner when they were young. However, the country seemed to have more when it had less.
"In those days there were more people supporting businesses. There was also more of a focus on the community. The main concern for us is to ensure that people don't become isolated. For a number of people, their visit to shop or pub might be the only social aspect to their day. There is also the intergenerational element. It's not unusual to see people in their 20s playing cards with people in their 80s. We really want to maintain that rural vibrancy.'
Emir also extended her well wishes to the pub's previous owners Humphrey Ó Conchuir and Noreen Uí Chonchuir. 'Everybody is entitled to their retirement and Humphrey was even more entitled to his. At the same time, not knowing the fate of the pub was a huge weight on his shoulders. He's really delighted that it's here to stay.'
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