Village pub rescue documentary premieres at Dublin International Film Festival
A powerful new documentary capturing the true story of one village’s fight to save its last local pub premiered at the Dublin International Film Festival on Saturday, 28 February.
When The Street Bar’s local Heineken Sales and Service Rep Shane Boland, learned of their efforts, the brewer stepped in to support
Directed by award-winning Irish filmmaker Gar O’Rourke – whose film Sanatorium was selected as Ireland’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 2026 Academy Awards- The Pub That Refused To Die chronicles how 26 residents of Kilteely, Limerick, came together to save the heart of their community.
Last year, the Limerick village (population 214) was facing the closure of its only surviving pub, Aherns, after already seeing its shops, post office and other pubs shuttered.
When long-time publican Noreen Ahern, nearing retirement and working close to 90 hours a week, could no longer keep the doors open, the village stood to lose its final social hub.
Rather than let that happen, 26 locals from all walks of life – including a barrister, dairy farmer, carpenter and gardener – took matters into their own hands.
With no hospitality experience, they rallied together to buy, reopen and relaunch the newly-named ‘The Street Bar’ last summer.
When The Street Bar’s local Heineken Sales and Service Rep Shane Boland, learned of their efforts, the brewer stepped in to support.
Shane, who features in the new documentary, worked closely with the new publicans in the lead-up to the relaunch, taking the time to understand exactly where support was needed and offering practical, hands-on guidance every step of the way.
The Heineken team also provided vital business advice and barstaff training through the Heineken Ahhh-cademy, ensuring 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.
Today, the renewed pub has become a thriving community space once again, a symbol of pride and what people can achieve together.
To shine a light on the story, the international brewer enlisted the help of Gar O’Rourke to create The Pub That Refused To Die to showcase the determination, resilience and collective spirit that transformed a looming closure into a symbol of community pride.
Sociologists describe pubs as essential “third places” – informal settings beyond home and work where communities connect, share stories and maintain everyday social bonds.
Research shows that when these spaces disappear, communities lose far more than a business; opportunities for social interaction are eroded, and feelings of isolation increase.
This is particularly true in Ireland.
A landmark study published in the Journal of Rural Studies* found that in rural Irish communities, pubs play a critical role in fostering social connection and community cohesion – and that their loss can significantly weaken social bonds, especially in villages where the pub is often the last remaining shared social space.
In the past year, a growing number of local communities in Ireland have come together to save pubs at risk of closure – pooling resources, forming co-operatives and taking ownership of spaces that matter deeply to local life.
These stories point to a renewed belief in the pub as something worth fighting for.
To help prospective publicans, Heineken is 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.
Gardener Noel O’Dea, who never pulled a pint before spearheading the rescue of The Street Bar commented: “The reopening was something really special.
“The support has been unbelievable, and months later the pub is still busy.
“That’s the real proof people didn’t come out of curiosity, they came because they needed a place to feel connected.
“It wasn’t easy getting there, but the community, and industry support including valuable training from Heineken, showed us The Street Bar is bigger than a building, it’s community.
“Don’t leave your local pub’s future in someone else’s hands.
“Take control of it. Build a strong team, be selective about who you bring in, and surround yourself with people who have the drive to see it through.
“It can feel daunting but The Street Bar is proof that it’s possible.”
Gar O’Rourke, award-winning Irish Filmmaker 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.”
Fiona Curtin, marketing director at Heineken Ireland added, “At Heineken we believe pubs across the country play a vital role in bringing people together and helping to keep traditions alive. What the people of Kilteely have achieved is a powerful real-world example of what’s possible, and we’re delighted to have been able to support them and share this inspiring story with everyone.”
Pat Crotty, Chief Executive of Vintners Federation of Ireland, said: “The story of Kilteely is one that resonates deeply with publicans right across Ireland.
“Pubs have always been far more than places to share a drink – they are the living rooms of our communities, where life’s milestones are marked, neighbours become friends and no one has to face hard times alone.
“When a pub closes it’s a huge loss to the locality, and that is why initiatives like this matter so much.
“When a community fights to save its local pub, it is fighting for something much bigger than four walls and a bar counter.
“We warmly welcome Heineken’s support for the people of Kilteely and their commitment to helping communities across Ireland keep their doors open.”
Nabil Nasser, global head of Heineken said: “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.
“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.”
The Pub That Refused To Die is the next chapter of For the Love of Pubs, a series of initiatives from Heineken that celebrate and support pub culture across Ireland and beyond.
Watch The Pub That Refused To Die on YouTube here:
- Full Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhYUZy9rgTc
- Trailer: https://youtu.be/EQv1vNynU-U
