DUNDALK’S FREE NEWSPAPER Dundalk man captains final flight of old Rescue 116 helicopter Page 2
McGreehan seeks answers for 1975 Dundalk bombing
Talented Rowan celebrates record deal with Spirit Store gig
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Wednesday, 16th July, 2025. Vol. 18, Issue 29 • 9A, Crowe Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth Tel: 042 932 0888 | Email: editorial@dundalkleader.com; advertising@dundalkleader.com
Vintners brewing up plan to save pubs New report shows a quarter of all pubs in Louth have closed since 2005 By Paul Byrne A NEW report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) shows a continuing decline in the number of pubs in Ireland, with 2,119 - or one in four - closing their doors since 2005. In Louth 58 pubs have closed since 2005 meaning there were 169 pubs operating in Louth last year. This represents a decline of 25.6% since 2005 when there were a total of 227 pubs around Louth. The report, compiled by Economist and Associate Professor Emeritus at DCU, Anthony Foley, shows that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year, with a further 600 to 1,000 closures estimated over the next decade. All 26 counties experienced de-
clines in pub numbers over the 2005 to 2024 period. The highest decrease was in Limerick (-37.2%), followed by Offaly (-34.1%) Cork (-32.7%), Roscommon (-32.3%), Tipperary (-32.0%), Laois (-30.6%), Longford (-30.1%) and Westmeath (-30.0%). The lowest decrease was in Dublin with a drop of -1.7%, followed by Meath with a decrease of -9.5%. Wicklow had a decrease of 10.8% and all other counties saw a 13% or greater decrease. Commenting on the report, author Professor Tony Foley said: “This report reveals a pattern of pub closures across Ireland, particularly in rural Ireland in recent years. Continued on Page 2
Local Athletes Going for Gold!
Carlingford’s Estelle Volkoff (Gymnastics) and Bellurgan’s Rián McCrystal (Cycling) willrepresent Ireland at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje, North Macedonia this weekend. The event is for young athletes aged 14-17 and is held every two years with over 4000 athletes competing between 20th and 27th of July.