Eighteen Mayo licenced premises placed on the property market

Up to 18 licenced premises in Mayo are officially up for sale on the property website, Daft.ie.

And that's even before the full impact of the Covid pandemic is felt by the hard-hit industry.

Those for sale include four in Ballyhaunis, two in Kiltimagh and two in Charlestown.

The others are located in Castlebar, Ballycastle, Clogher, Irishtown, Ballinrobe, Achill, Kilkelly, The Neale and Killala.

The Connaught Telegraph is aware of several other public houses for sale or lease/rent around the county and not listed on Daft.ie.

Foxford Councillor Neil Cruise, who is also a publican, said the trade has been under pressure for many years before the outbreak of Covid-19, which is destined to have further ramifications for the sector in the future.

“We have had to deal with the rise in off-licences, the smoking ban and a change of culture, and the virus is going to leave an even deeper mark before it’s finished.

“A void is being created in our medium and smaller-sized towns as rural decline bites deeper and deeper and isolation spreads.

“It's a social issue that needs to be seriously debated. My own view is that we need to become more creative and imaginative in how, as publicans, we use our space.

“I was bemused some years ago when I listened to former minister Michael McDowell talking about the need to create a cafe bar culture in Ireland.

“Now I know exactly what he means.”

The licenced premises currently advertised for sale on Daft.ie are as follows:

The Open Door, Killala, The Drum Inn, Clogher, The Connaught Inn, Castlebar, Bourke's, Irishtown, The Achill Head Hotel, KD's, Charlestown, Corner House, Kilkelly, The Seaview Lounge, Ballycastle, Costello's, Ballinrobe, Gibbons' Bar, The Neale, Mayflower, Ballyhaunis, Nicholson's, Ballyhaunis, The Borderline, Ballindine, Kitty McGreal’s, Kiltimagh, Langan's, Kiltimagh, The Cosy Restaurant and Bar, Charlestown, Gill's Bar, Ballyhaunis, and The Oak Bar, Ballyhaunis.