Latest news with #Aherns
Extra.ie
a day ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
'It takes a village' -- Locals rally together to save town's last pub
A group of villagers have saved the last pub in their area from closure by pooling all their money together and buying the business. 26 like-minded individuals from the village of Kilteely, near Pallasgreen in County Limerick, decided the premises needed to be saved, so that it could continue to be the heart of the community, hosting everything from GAA meetings to 21st parties and funerals. The 25 men and one woman sank their savings into becoming the new owners of Aherns bar, after it went on the market for €300,000. Ahern's pub in Kilteely, Co Limerick. Pic: DNG Speaking to Oliver Callan on RTE Radio 1, one of the new owners Liam Carroll said the village is halfway between Limerick city and Tipperary Town and was the last pub left in the village, and the hub of the community. Liam Carroll said the village has seen lots of changes over the years, with the closure of the post office and a number of shops. He added 'The pub has been there 150 years, or so, and the way rural pubs are, they double as venues for other things, like parties or the after's of a funeral, or an engagement party or the GAA Lotto, that space is just utilised for all of those different purposes'. Ahern's pub in Kilteely, Co Limerick. Pic: DNG When the Ahern family decided to retire, the pub went up for sale, but there was no interest in anyone buying it. So the group of locals held a number of meetings, to discuss how they might save the pub. The result of these meetings was a syndicate who divided the cost into 20 shares, averaging €15,000 a share, and while it was made very clear to people that there were better investments that could be made, and they all needed to be prepared to say goodbye to the money they invested, they all had one goal, to save the hub of their community. The group has renamed the premises 'The Street Bar' and has also extended an invitation to US president Donald Trump to visit anytime he is in Ireland. Ahern's pub in Kilteely, Co Limerick. Pic: DNG Not one of the 26 investors has experience of pulling pints, and they all realise the nature of rural pubs is they are notoriously difficult to turn a profit on, so they have retained the staff of the pub, saving their jobs, and any profit will be paying their salaries. Liam Carroll said that all of the investors are busy with their own jobs, and would not have had time to run the business, so retaining the staff was the best plan. The investors include a clinical psychologist, an accountant, a solicitor, a barrister, a pharmacist, a carpenter, a teacher, a sign-maker, builders, farmers and electricians, and they are now considering their next move, and that's how best to use the shop that comes with the pub, as is normal in rural public houses. The Street Bar in Kilteely is open six days a week, with the exception of Tuesdays. It just goes to show that it does indeed 'take a village'.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘It takes a village' – Group of locals pool savings together to save town pub from closure
Some of the 26-person group that pooled their savings together to save their local pub from closure, in Kilteely, Co Limerick. Photo: Brendan Gleeson The 26-person group, including 25 men and one woman, purchased Kilteely's only watering hole, Aherns pub in Co Limerick, after it went on the market for €300,000. The sale had threatened to quench the communities thirst for craic, however after pooling their pennies together, the devoted pub-goers saved their beloved boozer — proving that friendship, froth, and a dash of community spirit are the perfect cocktail. The group renamed the premises, The Street Bar, and extended an invitation to the White House for President Donald Trump to come and visit and drink his first pint of non-alcoholic 'Kilteely cream'. One of the pub's local investors, landscape gardener, Noel O'Dea said: 'They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I tell you, it also takes a village to save its pub.' Not one of the 26 investors has pub trade experience, but they refused to drown their sorrows over the impending pub closure. Mr O'Dea said: 'The pub is the heart of any community, and because all the shops and pubs here were gone, this was our last meeting place.' 'We just couldn't see the people in the village having no place to go to, because otherwise it is just a group of houses,' he said. Lamenting the loss of two pubs, two shops, two post offices, and a creamery locally, O'Dea said the only other business in the Limerick village, a recycling venture, KDI (Kilteely Dromkeen Innovation), employs seven people, which was also set up by locals, 'after the last recession hit and because employment was hard to get'. In what must be the most expensive 'round' ever, the local pub group invested up to €15,000 each to keep the drinks pouring and the craic flowing. The eclectic group, which includes a clinical psychologist, barrister, solicitor, pharmacist, carpenter, accountant, farmers, a teacher, sign-maker, builders, electricians, is also considering how best to use a shop premises included in the pub sale. 'There were a few suggestions but I don't think we would get away with some of them,' O'Dea joked. One of the group said they should invite the media loving US President Donald Trump, who does not drink alcohol, to their pub to sample his first pint of non-alcoholic 'Kilteely cream' or his favourite tipple Diet Coke. O'Dea laughed: 'Yeah, we could, sure listen, why not, send out the invitation.' Extending the invite to presidents, prince/princesses and paupers, O'Dea added: 'We have a festival every year and it's on in two-weeks time, and this year we are going to have Ireland's first-ever Black Pudding Festival, so everyone is welcome.' 'We are starting that off this year, we're asking butchers and anyone who is good at making food at home, because the art of making pudding is dying out and we are just trying to revive it —during the festival we'll serve you the perfect pint and pudding.' Embracing the venture, another member of the group, barrister Liam Carroll, said: 'Rural pubs are dying out all over the country, so we decided to come together to save ours, and hopefully we can keep it going, employ a few people and harness the community spirit that we have 'on tap' here.' Mr Carroll also encouraged other communities to group together to keep their dying pubs alive: 'I would encourage others to do the same thing, there is little or no profits in this type of venture, but it is vital to keep local communities from dying out.' The rebranded Street Bar, Kilteely, Co Limerick, opened its doors last Saturday.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From combat to community: Woman turns bakery into mission to help veterans
A Chicago area marine is bringing new life to the old saying 'Home sweet home.' Diane Aherns is a woman full of grit, grace and absolute love for her fellow vets. Her latest mission is about exactly that — with a little sugar on top. More News, Weather and Headlines at It has been 31 years since the Marine swapped her combat uniform for an apron and started the popular Piece of Cake bakery in East Dundee. Locals knew her not just for her legendary scones and pies but sugar laden, award winning cakes. But even as lines stretched out the door, Aherns felt something stirring beyond her mixing bowl. It was a call to serve in a new way. Four years ago, she transformed her bakery delivery van into a way to collect discarded furniture. She knew those used couches, kitchen tables and chairs would mean the world to veterans trying to start again. More from Erin: Morton West's 'Say Yes to the Dress' project helps students shine at prom free of cost Overflowing with donations, Aherns leased an Eligin warehouse and launched her latest mission, Operation: Sweet Life. 'Between thanksgiving and Christmas, we served 20 veterans with full homes of furniture,' she said. 'That's how fast things are going in and out. … They feel the love and that's what I'm supposed to be doing. That's my full time job here on earth…is to love.' Her old bakery van now delivering furniture, a hug and her signature sweet treats. 'They get what looks like brand new furniture to live in their home and they're just like blown away,' she said. ''Home sweet home' is our model, so that's what we try to deliver. … People kind of think I'm crazy because it's a day to day operation. But so many times we've been able to help somebody who has absolutely nothing.' Each load of love is a mission from the heart. Operation: Sweet Life has been able to help countless veterans and their families over the last few years. Which means, they are always in need of furniture donations . If you'd like to know more about how to donate and support this work log on to their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
