A well-known Cork country pub has announced they'll be serving their last pints this weekend after more than 40 years in business.
Blair's Inn near Blarney announced that they would soon be closing their doors, informing locals and long-time patrons that this would be their final week in business.
The self-described 'mighty country pub' has been at the heart of the community in Cloghroe for decades, and the owners thanked their staff, regulars, and suppliers for all their support over that time.
The pub was opened following the closure of the Blair family chemist during the recession of the 1980s. The move was a big shift for John and Anne but it didn't take long for the couple to find their feet. The pair eventually passed on the running of the pub to their sons Richard and Duncan in the early 2000s.
Blair's Inn was crowned Pub of the Year 2014 in the Georgina Campbell Awards and later went on to receive awards from Tripadvisor and the Irish Pub Guide among others.
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The closure was announced on social media alongside a photo album containing dozens of photos from down through the years showing the fond memories made inside the pub.
The Blair family said: "Sadly Sunday, November 3rd will mark the final day of this particular chapter in the history of this mighty little country pub.
"We’d like to acknowledge our phenomenal staff (past and present). I have always said there must be something in the water out here. We have had a constant stream of fantastic young people through the place over the years. They are genuinely a credit to our community and it has been a pleasure to get to know and work with so many of them over the years.
"We’d also like to recognise our fantastic regulars and locals. We will be eternally grateful for all your support, particularly those of you who stuck with us through the challenges of the last four and a half years.
"It’s been a wild ride with memories to last a lifetime; the Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, the New Year’s Eve banquets, huge community barbecues, weddings, big corporate events for the likes of Apple, EMC & Blizzard.
The family reminisced about all the incredible musical acts they've had in the bar over the years with well-known local names like John Spillane and the Cork City Jazz Band among the highlights. The pub was well known for the Monday night trad sessions, a tradition that will now be sorely missed by long-time patrons.
They continued: "My favourite though was always the chats across the bar with the locals. We’ve solved Brexit (every major global issue there is going in fact), managed premier league-winning soccer teams, won All Irelands & come up with gold medal-winning strategies for the likes of the O’Donovans & Katie Taylor; amazing what you can do over a few pints!
While the family gave no specific reason for the closure, the hospitality industry has been facing its fair share of challenges here in Ireland with owners struggling to stay afloat. The Blair family said they'd simply given it their all and felt that closing the doors was the best option for now.
The family concluded: "I hope you appreciate that we haven’t taken this decision lightly. We have simply given it our all. As for the future of this magical pub; well that’s a conversation for another time."
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