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The Tonic Bar premises in Blackrock will house the new JD Wetherspoon bar. Google Street View

British pub chain JD Wetherspoon buys Dublin bar for €1.5m

The company’s founder said the aim is to open more pubs in Ireland, creating up to 1,000 jobs in the next ten years.

BRITISH PUB OPERATOR JD Wetherspoon has exchanged contracts to buy its first pub in the Republic of Ireland, the Tonic Bar in Blackrock, Dublin.

The company expects to complete the €1.5 million purchase in the next ten days. In a statement, JD Wetherspoon said it plans to invest a further €1.5 million developing the site and while there are no on site or opening dates, the aim is to the new-look pub open by April next year.

The company owns over 800 outlets across the UK and is known for its low prices and long opening hours.

Commenting on the expansion into Ireland, JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said the aim is to “invest up to €50 million in the Republic of Ireland over the next five to ten years, opening between ten and 20 pubs”.

“Each put will create approximately 50 jobs,” he added.

Read: A pint in the Stag’s Head listed in top 50 ‘must eat experiences’>

Read: New scheme encourages parents to bring their teens to the pub>

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159 Comments
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    Mute Aoife McMahon
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    May 1st 2014, 7:09 AM

    I like the idea, it’s different. Hope all goes well with the inspections, sounds like a great idea for a tourist attraction

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    Mute scaldbag
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    May 1st 2014, 7:47 AM

    Just what this country needs…..a floating vomitorium .

    9
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    Mute Gerard Mooney
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    May 1st 2014, 9:34 AM

    Floating hostel / brewery? That will go down well.

    5
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    Mute Graham Cowley
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    May 1st 2014, 7:34 AM

    There is a massive chunk of its timeline missing in this article, from 1998 to 2013 there was three businesses based onboard, and none of the save the ship group cares then when she could have been restored or updated. Having worked on board during that time I’ll be interested to see how the hell they will squeeze all of that on the boat as it wasn’t that spacious, shame it wasn’t all done years ago

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 7:42 AM

    Worked on this in the 80′s through FAS scheme in Ringsend. Rember jumping from the ship into the Basin on particularly hot days. Would be a shame if it where scrapped.

    24
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    Mute Massimo Osti
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    May 1st 2014, 6:56 AM

    A floating hostel? Lovely.

    24
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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 7:44 AM

    My Grand Uncle,Captain Mescall, was the captain of the Naom Eanna ,circa 1940/50,

    22
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    Mute Julia Mundt
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    May 1st 2014, 8:37 AM

    Hi Liam. This ship was only build in 1956… Don’t where your great uncle worked as a captain unless this lady is the NAOHM EANNA II. Please see if you can find old pictures for our campaign….

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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 9:16 AM

    My dates were wrong,My Grand Uncle, Captain Mescall was the Captain on the Naom Eanna in the 50s,it would appear he was the first Captain.

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    Mute liam lally
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    May 1st 2014, 9:18 AM

    My dates were wrong,I am sure it can be confirmed that he was the first Captain

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    Mute Anthony Quinn
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    May 1st 2014, 7:25 AM

    Me likey..its got potential..think it should stay in dublin though

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    Mute Eamonn Maloney
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    May 1st 2014, 7:52 AM

    Why? Most people associate it with Galway Bay & Aran Islands.

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 8:10 AM

    In fairness in been in Grand Canal Basin for as long as it served the Arann Islands if not longer.

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    Mute Eamonn Maloney
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    May 1st 2014, 1:11 PM

    Almost John but not quite.People remember her for her trips between Galway and the Aran Islands not for being left to rust in Grand Canal Dock.

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    Mute John Dunne
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    May 1st 2014, 1:17 PM

    No objection to her being berthed in Galway at all. Would probably get more use in Galway
    as the hostel/bar/restaurant.

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    Mute johngahan
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    May 1st 2014, 7:49 AM

    You’d think a well known businessman would sponsor this sort of thing to get the public used to the idea of his getting to purchase our transport system when it is privatised.

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    Mute John Moylan
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    May 1st 2014, 1:32 PM

    if Sam Field (?) Corbett can rescue it, let him. But with his own money. However, not with public money. Remember the financial black hole that is, was, the Jeanie Johnston ? No thanks to a re-run of that saga !!

    When I see the phrase “Should the frames and keel be wasted to the extent that they need replacing then the vessel would be deemed uneconomic to restore — unless supported by the state as is common in most developed countries,” Field Corbett said ” I see someone spotting a potential State-backed gravy train.

    Thanks, but, er, no thanks.

    It’s either economic to do (with your own money), or it isn’t.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    May 1st 2014, 8:05 AM

    Preserving ships is only part of the issue. They need to be maintained after preservation and thats not cheap. If not managed properly they become hazardous and yhe state dosen’t need to take on a nice idea that will cost the taxpayer in the long term. If she is viable so be it , sell her. If not bite the bullet and cut her up

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    Mute Julia Mundt
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    May 1st 2014, 8:34 AM

    Hi Paul. It’s like maintaining your house or your vintage car. You either like or you dont. You can be very sure that we never neglect the ship again. It’s our job to keep ships and barges up and running like a baker bakes bread and a mechanic repairs cars. The campaign never asked for any funds coming out of the tax payers pockets.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    May 1st 2014, 11:53 AM

    It’s ugly, rotting and should be scrapped. Looking for State funds to invest in a sinking ship is like another bank bailout…

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    Mute ed w
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    May 1st 2014, 10:11 AM

    Floating brewery. what could possibly go wrong

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    Mute The Polar Bear
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    May 1st 2014, 9:00 AM

    Has the ownersgip dispute been resolved?

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