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Today’s Budget announcement of a €15m scheme to help keep rural pubs open will be welcomed by many. While details of the scheme have yet to be confirmed, this may be the right moment for businesses in the sector to take stock and plan for long-term viability in what is a rapidly changing market. An effective and innovative scheme, if done well, could support not just individual businesses, but the wider social and economic infrastructure of rural communities.
Initiatives such as Pub is the Hub in the UK, and a similar piloted scheme, previously explored by the VFI highlight how rural pubs can broaden their role as community anchors, bringing people together not only to socialise, but also to work, access services, shop locally and eat, helping to sustain footfall throughout the week and across the year.
The allocation of €22m to support hosting the Ryder Cup and the UEFA Euro 2028 Championship aligns with the Government’s Major International Sports Events Policy and Strategy, which seeks to position Ireland as a sustainable host of major events while delivering clear economic returns, strengthening high-performance pathways, and expanding participation and legacy benefits. As details emerge, the key will be ensuring transparent governance and measurable outcomes from visitor spend and international profile to community sport participation gains.
Recent research undertaken by BDO and Amárach Research, indicates strong public backing for this approach: 65% of respondents support Government efforts to secure major international sporting events, and 53% believe such events showcase Irish culture and hospitality internationally, with over half also viewing public investment in this area as representing good value for money.
Content adapted from RTÉ.