Documentary retells the story of a community saving its village pub
A new documentary, telling the true story of a village’s fight to save its last local pub, has premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival. db finds out more.
Irish filmmaker Gar O’Rourke has created a documentary named The Pub That Refused To Die which chronicles how 26 residents of Kilteely, Ireland have come together to stop the closure of the local pub which stood at the heart of the community.
Losing the final social hub
Last year, the County Limerick village, which has a population of just 214, was facing the closure of its only surviving pub, Aherns. The situation, which followed the pub’s long-time publican Noreen Ahern nearing retirement, had meant that the village stood to lose its final social hub.
Rather than let that happen, 26 local residents – including a barrister, dairy farmer, carpenter and gardener – took matters into their own hands and, with no hospitality experience, rallied together to buy, reopen and relaunch the newly-named Street Bar.
When The Street Bar’s local Heineken sales and service representative Shane Boland, learned of the villager’s efforts, he made sure the brewery stepped in to support.
Rebuilding for the long term
Boland, who features in the new documentary, worked closely with the new publicans to provide business advice, support, bar staff training and ensured they were set up with the right tools and equipment to help them not only reopen, but begin rebuilding the business for the long term.
Speaking to the drinks business, Boland said: “When I first heard what the people of Kilteely were trying to do, I thought ‘this is what pubs are all about’. Pubs are not just a business, but where friendships are built, milestones are marked and communities stay connected. These 26 locals didn’t just save a pub, they protected the heart of their village.”
Boland pointed out that “at Heineken, we were proud to stand alongside them with the training, advice and support to not only help them reopen but ensure that the Street Bar remains a thriving community space for years to come”.
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Determination, resilience and collective spirit
To shine a light on the story, the international brewer enlisted the help of O’Rouke to create The Pub That Refused To Die to showcase the community’s determination, resilience and collective spirit.
To help prospective publicans, Heineken is now also launching a new online resource hub to provide tools, guidance and inspiration to help communities safeguard their local pubs – and encourage others to follow in Kilteely’s footsteps.
O’Rourke added: “When I first heard the story of the Kilteely locals coming together to save their pub, I knew it would be a special film to make. It’s a true underdog story, rooted in community, resilience and quiet determination. When Heineken reached out about helping bring the story to life, it felt like a natural fit given their long-standing connection to pubs and the communities around them. Spending weeks on the ground with the people of Kilteely, the real reward became the process itself – working directly with a community that met us with warmth, generosity and great humour. That spirit runs through the film, and it’s what ultimately makes this story so powerful.”
‘A powerful reminder of what communities stand to lose’
Heineken global head Nabil Nasser explained: “Pubs have always been where real social connection happens, and that’s something we’ve championed at Heineken for generations. The Pub That Refused To Die is a powerful reminder of what communities stand to lose when these spaces vanish and what becomes possible when people come together to protect them.”
Boland told db: “If this story shows anything, it’s that with the right backing and a shared sense of purpose, communities really make an impact.”
Nasser added: “Through initiatives like Pub Museums, Pub Succession, and Starring Bars, we’ve shown our long standing commitment to supporting the places that keep social life alive. We were proud to support the villagers of Kilteely and help hero their story, one that celebrates the simple, human beauty of social connection, and the pubs at the heart of it.”
Watch the documentary below:
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