Popular Galway pub 'unable to sell alcohol' awaiting court hearing

O’Reilly’s Bar in Salthill issued an “important notice” to punters on Thursday saying that due to their ownership changing, their alcohol licence must be formally transferred into the current owner’s name.

However, the court hearing regarding this change has been pushed out as they await an external report.

As a result, the bar is unable to trade with alcohol until the changeover takes place but its restaurant part is still open for food in the mean time.

O’Reilly’s Bar said: “Important notice. Due to a change in ownership, our alcohol licence must be formally transferred to the current owner.

“Unfortunately, the court hearing was adjourned due to an external report. Until the licence transfer is complete, we are legally unable to sell alcohol or display alcoholic beverages on the premises. The restaurant is open normally for food.”

They finished by saying: “Thank you for your patience and continued support while we complete our alcohol licence transfer”.

The family run business, which has one of the best scenes in Salthill to see Galway Bay, has been opened since 2016.

Back then, Anthony O’Reilly purchased Lohan’s Bar and Restaurant, part of which was built on the site of his family’s former ‘Stroll Inn’ pub off the D’Arcy roundabout, for €1.65 million.

The O’Reilly family previously operated the pub from the early 1960s until 2002, when it was sold for around €1.8 million.

The premises and an adjoining house were bought by Pat and Geraldine Lohan, who went on to invest a further estimated €5 million in building the new premises.