Ireland's pubs are represented by two bodies. The Vintners' Federation of Ireland, based in Rathfarnham, speaks for pubs outside Dublin. The Licensed Vintners Association speaks for Dublin. They run the Irish Pub Awards together and otherwise campaign on what their members feel most.

VFI: rural pubs

  • 30 September 2026: a VFI protest brought publicans to Dublin; the federation told RTÉ that morale among rural publicans is at rock bottom.
  • 16 September: a VFI-commissioned poll found the public overwhelmingly backs measures to prevent rural pub closures.
  • 6 October: Budget 2027 allocated €15 million to rural pubs. Chief executive Pat Crotty called it a vote of confidence.
  • 12 October: Procure.ie named official energy partner, to help members manage energy costs. In August, EZO partnered with the VFI on EV charging at pubs.

LVA: Dublin's costs and nights

  • Excise: with DIGI, the LVA asked Budget 27 for a cut. None came.
  • Late nights: late openings fell by 950 nights in 2025; the LVA wants Special Exemption Order costs cut now and the Sale of Alcohol Bill's annual permits delivered. It has also asked whether Justice is the right department to run venue licensing.
  • Taxis: an LVA survey found 6 in 10 regular Dublin socialisers say difficulty getting a taxi home affects how often they go out.
  • Later opening: 3 in 4 Dublin socialisers want later opening, rising to 8 in 10 among 18–34s.
  • Oireachtas: the LVA presented Dublin pubs' cost base to the committee on the cost of doing business in June. John Byrne of The Burnaby is chair for 2026/27.

Shared ground

Both welcomed the return of the 9% VAT rate on food on 1 July 2026 and both are behind the Irish Pub Awards, whose national final is in Dublin on 18 November 2026. Membership of either body is the condition of entry.

Our trade bodies page lists every organisation that speaks for the industry, what each does, and how to join.