‘Pubs are the living rooms of our communities’: Limerick locals celebrate screen debut

A short-film about The Street Bar was commissioned by Heineken

Stakeholders Bosco Ryan, Liam Carroll, John O'Dea, Marie Chavan, and Noel O'Dea at DIFF.

The 26 locals who saved their last pub in Kilteely, Co Limerick have inspired a short film, in which some of them featured at the premiere at Dublin International Film Festival.

Directed by Gar O’Rourke and commissioned by Heineken, The Pub That Refused To Die shares the story of how the group came together to save their last local pub, The Street Bar.

Last year, the Kilteely community was about to lose their last pub, Ahern’s, when the stakeholders came together to stop its closure.

With a population of only 214, the community would have lost its final social hub when Ahern’s pub was due to be closed last year.

That’s when 26 stakeholders took matter into their own hands to save the establishment – with none of them having ever worked in hospitality.

When The Street Bar’s local Heineken Sales and Service Rep Shane Boland, learned of their efforts, the brewer stepped in to support.

Now, The Street Bar’s story has been turned into a short film, one of community and pride.

The locals who saved their last pub in Kilteely at the premiere of their short-film at DIFF.

Noel O’Dea, who works as a gardener, had never pulled a pint before spearheading the rescue of his local pub.

“The reopening was something really special. The support has been unbelievable, and months later the pub is still busy. That’s the real proof people didn’t come out of curiosity, they came because they needed a place to feel connected,” he said.

While he noted getting there was not easy, Mr O’Dea said the support from the community did not go unnoticed.

“Don’t leave your local pub’s future in someone else’s hands. Take control of it. Build a strong team, be selective about who you bring in, and surround yourself with people who have the drive to see it through. It can feel daunting but The Street Bar is proof that it’s possible,” he said.

In the past year, a growing number of local communities in Ireland have come together to save pubs at risk of closure - pooling resources, forming co-operatives and taking ownership of spaces that matter deeply to local life.

Chief Executive of Vintners Federation of Ireland, Pat Crotty, said: “The story of Kilteely is one that resonates deeply with publicans right across Ireland. Pubs have always been far more than places to share a drink - they are the living rooms of our communities, where life’s milestones are marked, neighbours become friends and no one has to face hard times alone. When a pub closes it’s a huge loss to the locality, and that is why initiatives like this matter so much.” 

Global Head of Heineken, Nabil Nasser, Global Head of Heineken, said: “Through initiatives like Pub Museums, Pub Succession, and Starring Bars, we’ve shown our long standing commitment to supporting the places that keep social life alive. We were proud to support the villagers of Kilteely and help hero their story, one that celebrates the simple, human beauty of social connection, and the pubs at the heart of it.” 

The Pub That Refused To Die is part of For the Love of Pubs, a series of initiatives from Heineken that support pub culture across Ireland and beyond.