Limerick locals team up to save last village pub from closing its doors 

Group of 26 locals invested €300,000 to buy Ahern’s pub in Kilteely, now named The Street Bar

Some of the new owners of Ahern's pub in Kilteely. 

A small community in Co Limerick has become the second in Ireland in recent months to come together to keep their only pub from closing its doors.

A group of 26 locals have invested €300,000 to buy Ahern’s pub in Kilteely, after the previous owners decided to retire.

It comes just a number of months after the Inny Tavern (Tábhairne na hÚine) in the village of Cillín Liath on Co Kerry's Iveragh penisuala was saved by a community buyout after its owners retired.

The Kilteely pub, previously owned by the Ahern family, was on the market following the retirement of Noreen Ahern after 40 years of service.

To keep the 150-year-old establishment open and operating as a pub, the 26 stakeholders worked with the Ahern family and have now renamed it The Street Bar.

Limerick barrister Liam Carroll is one of those keen to keep Ahern's traditions alive.

“We realised that no one who was interested in buying the pub was willing to run it as a pub. We let the Ahern family know our intentions and they worked with us to make sure a pub could be retained in the village, as it was the last one. 

"What followed was casual meetings at GAA matches, phone calls, and meetings over a few drinks before we formally got a list of interested parties together,” he told the Irish Examiner.

Even though none of them is a publican, the group made it work and treated the project “as a business” from the get go.

“Bosco, one of our directors, is also an accountant. He was able to help structure everything properly and ensure we were set up for success. All big decisions are made by the board, who are appointed by the shareholders. Eileen, our manager, then oversees the day-to-day operations,” he said.

Among the stakeholders, there are 20 shares — with some having gone "halves" on a share.

According to Mr Carroll, everyone involved has fond memories of the pub, which has been in Kilteely for more than 150 years.

“It has seen its fair share of history and even survived the burning of an RIC barracks in the 1920s, which was located right next door,” he said.

Through decades, the staff served refreshments to loyal customers, helping them to celebrate all sorts of joyous occasions, from engagements to gatherings following successful matches.

However, Mr Carroll said the establishment was of “solemn importance” for a special reason.

“It’s where people come together after a bereavement or a funeral. It’s a place where I remember my grandfather going for a drink. Most of us can recall loved ones who are no longer with us sitting at the bar there and ordering a pint or a whiskey, and chatting with their neighbours and friends,” he said.

Last weekend, the group got the pub ready for their first night trading.