Sign of the times – village goes from five pubs to just one in a decade

A rural village in North East Galway has gone from having five bars to just one in a decade.

Galway County Councillor Michael Connolly (FF) said the demise of Moylough’s nightlife was indicative of what was happening in the rural pub trade across the country.

Cllr Connolly said that the village had a lot going for it, and it was an attractive place to live – but not for its nightlife!

“There used to be five bars, and there is only one now. That’s within the last ten years. There was two open before Covid, and two has gone down to one since Covid,” he said.

Cheevers’ Bar in the village centre is the last bar standing. Another bar opposite Cheevers’ hasn’t reopened since the Pandemic restrictions hit.

Cllr Connolly said Moylough remains an attractive place to live, and there is scope for it to grow further.

“Unlike other places, we have sewage capacity, and we have some water capacity, and the village has grown – there are over 500 people living in it. Most houses have been built over the last 20 years.”

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie