'It was a scary decision' couple buys vacant Laois pub and reopens for business

While pubs all over Ireland are closing their doors as drinking habits change, one Laois couple has done the opposite.

Liam Headen and Una Murphy will celebrate their first year running the Tower Inn in Timahoe this May, living upstairs with five year old son Fionn.

It has meant a return of ownership of the 300 year old pub to the Headen family.

Liam who has a fabrication business Viking Engineering in the village, said they first planned to convert the pub into a home.

“We were looking to build a home first. It was my grandparent's pub but they sold it in 1985 to the Bergins.

“It closed in Covid and didn't reopen. It was on sale for a good while.

Reopening it as a pub was “a scary decision” said Una.

“We took a punt. Everyone is talking about pubs closing, but we don't shirk from a challenge. The heritage factor helped. Knowing it had been in the Headen family for generations, it's a full circle.

“My family had a pub in Kilkenny and this is such a beautiful pub so we wondered 'could we do it?'.  The Bergins have been so helpful, we couldn't have done it without them.”

They opened on May 18 2023 and moved into the comfortable upstairs living quarters last November.

“Andy and Marie Bergin had a lovely home there. We have done nothing so far. Liam's family really rallied around us too,” Una said.

“It's not easy but we thought the first year would be tougher,” Liam said.

“We are covering our costs, with three local girls in college working part-time,” he said.

They introduced an open mic trad night every third Friday as well as poker nights, a golf society and a snooker tournament.

“We are really happy we did it. The locals have been so supportive, they are brilliant. They are so fair to everybody. They say they 'share the love', going to both pubs for a few pints. We so appreciate it,” Una said.

“We plan to hold a bash in May to give a big thank you to all our customers.

“It's a real heritage building. We are really aware of its importance to the village. It's our legacy to maintain it and pass it on to our son,” she said.