‘We’ve had the run of our lives’: The Tannery restaurant to close after 30 years
Paul and Máire Flynn of The Tannery Restaurant. Picture: Joleen Cronin
Restaurant owners Paul and Máire Flynn have announced they will close their popular Waterford restaurant.
The Tannery, which has been a huge influence on Dungarvan’s food scene, is entering its 30th year in business and the couple have confirmed they will close its doors permanently on January 1, 2027.
They will continue to run The Tannery Townhouse and the Cookery School on a seasonal basis, welcoming guests from spring through to autumn, and serving dinner to The Tannery Townhouse residents.
“If someone had handed us a crystal ball in 1997 and said, ‘You’ll still be at this in 30 years,’ we’d have bitten their hand off,” Paul said. “We’ve had the run of our lives. We’re closing because we can, not because we have to, and that’s a great position to be in.
“Hospitality has thrown everything at us over the years and we’ve always managed to dodge most of it. Navigating storms is our superpower. But 30 years feels like a good, round number, and we’d like to scale back on our own terms before I’m wheeled out of the kitchen.
“This last year is about enjoying these last months properly, cooking for the lovely people who’ve kept us going, having the kind of fun we were probably too busy to have the first time around.”
Máire added: “We’ve watched families grow up through this restaurant. We’ve made lifelong friends across the dining room. Being part of the Dungarvan community and of the wider Irish food family has been a privilege. Welcoming wonderful chefs over the years into our kitchen, and seeing our talented alumni go on to extraordinary things, reminds us just how connected and generous this industry can be.
“Our decision comes from a place of gratitude and confidence. We’re excited about what comes next, and we’re looking forward to celebrating the year ahead with everyone who has been part of our story.”
They are inviting regulars, old friends, and first-time visitors to be part of the last service season of The Tannery Restaurant over the next 11 months, sharing a rolling toast to three decades of cooking.
The final restaurant service in The Tannery will take place on January 1, 2027, with bookings for the closing period to be announced later this year.
