Company takes over third Offaly pub this year

A COMPANY which was granted licences for two other pubs in Offaly this year has now taken over Fergie's Bar in Tullamore.

At Tullamore District Court, Judge Andrew Cody granted a licence transfer from Beezrock Ltd, whose nominee was Fergal Quinn, to Droughill Builders Ltd, whose director is Trevor Whelan.

Mr Whelan told Judge Cody he had a couple of other pubs and had over 15 years of experience in the bar trade himself.

He had a manager in each pub and oversaw the day to day running of them all. All his staff were fully trained, he added.

Commenting on Fergie's Bar, he told the court: “We retained about 70% of the original staff. Some of the part-time staff left because they were returning to college.”

Fergie's Bar is a large well known premises in a landmark building in Market Square, Tullamore.

It had been owned and run by husband and wife duo Fergie and Mairead Quinn since 1995.

In a post on social media announcing the sale Mr Quinn said: “We have made so many friends in Fergie’s over the years. A special thanks to so many GAA clubs, especially Cappincur GAA who we have sponsored from day one – soccer, rugby, pitch and putt clubs who have supported us.”

He added: “Would you believe when we started in 1995 we still have the same customers who we were still serving in 2025. I would like to thank my fellow publicans who have helped us out when we were stuck and the friendships we made over the years.”

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Droughill Builders Ltd is registered in Portarlington and its directors are Trevor Whelan and Sinead Whelan.

In July Droughill Builders became the licence holder for the Hoppers Bar in Walsh Island and earlier in the summer the company was granted a licence for the Palace Bar in Birr.

Tullamore Circuit Court heard the licence for the Palace Bar was being revived. It had closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and a tenant had taken it over but could not get it off the ground afterwards.

The Hoppers Bar was made famous in 1988 when RTE visited and interviewed local man, the late Noel Duffy, for a special report on his invention, a motorised bar stool.

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