Over 200 pubs have shut their doors across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal since 2005.
Pubs in some North West counties declined by over a quarter during the same period.
New data from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows that 44 pubs closed their doors in County Sligo since 2005, with 5 of these closures in the last year.
Counties in the North West saw some of the largest decreases over the same period, Leitrim closures represent a 28.6% while in Donegal the figure is 26.3%.
In Leitrim, there are 40 less pubs since 2005 with eight of the closures happening in the post pandemic decline.
In Donegal, 119 pubs shut their doors over the same period with 33 of those closures taking place since the start of the pandemic.
DIGI says the data shows the number of closures disproportionately impacts more regional counties and areas outside of urban centres.
To address this challenge, DIGI are calling on Government to deliver a reduction in Ireland’s extremely high excise duties which would make an immediate, m positive difference to the hundreds of small businesses in our sector struggling to stay open.
