Did you know that 2,205 pubs closed between 2005 and 2025? In 2000, there were 522 nightclubs across the State for people to ring in the new millennium; today, there are 83. What has happened to Ireland’s once reasonably vibrant night-time economy?

If the young population had collapsed, it would be easier to understand. However, in 2000, there were 312,757 people between the ages of 20-24 in Ireland; there are now 339,458, an 8.5 per cent increase, yet nine out of 10 late-night venues have disappeared. Ireland is Europe’s most dynamic economy yet the night-time economy is moribund.

We pride ourselves on being a nation of talkers, storytellers, drinkers, musicians and craic merchants, yet it is extremely difficult to stay out chatting in any sort of premises after midnight. We are a country that, through Ryanair, has revolutionised air travel, yet we have no Darts running after midnight, a skeleton night bus service in Dublin and, apart from one route in Cork, no public transport in any city or town after 11pm. How can an industry that depends on transport survive?

Last year 86 pubs closed, up from 65 the previous year but down from 117 in 2023. The average closure rate has been 110–112 pubs a year over 20 years, but this accelerated to 128 a year between 2019 and 2024. A recent study, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, predicted a further 600–1,000 closures over the next decade.

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Granted, there are lifestyle reasons behind these trends, but although people may be drinking less, they still want to go out. Every other........

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