The former Munster Bar in Waterford city has been sold for more than €800,000, marking another chapter in the story of one of the city’s best known pubs.

The landmark premises at 11 The Mall and 14 Baileys New Street sits in the heart of the Viking Triangle and has long been regarded as one of the social centres of Waterford life.

The building, which is home to Union Restaurant, fronts onto both The Mall and Baileys New Street. The restaurant is expected to remain in place following the sale.

John Rohan of “Sherry Fitzgerald John Rohan” Estate Agents explains the restaurant is not moving.

“Union Restaurant are in there running and they’re going to stay on. The building has been sold.

Myself and Tom Grace of Halley Grace Auctioneers jointly sold the property on behalf of the Fitzgerald family, and we were delighted with the outcome. We had good interest in it.

“Michael and Peter said their father would have been there from around 1955 or 1957, and it was a big part of their lives as they grew up there. They said that while it holds a lot of memories for them, the time had come to move on, and that’s what they’ve now done.”

The Munster closed its doors in 2024 after generations of ownership by the Fitzgerald family, who had operated the pub since the 1950s. For decades, the pub was known as a meeting place for everyone from theatre groups and rugby supporters to musicians, business people and football fans.

Its Oak Room became one of the city’s most recognisable traditional bars, while the wider premises built a reputation for lively sing songs, late night conversation and a strong sense of community.

The Fitzgerald family said at the time of the closure it had become increasingly difficult to continue in the trade, with changing customer habits, rising costs and the long term impact of Covid all affecting the pub business.

The Munster was more than just a pub for many in Waterford. Generations of customers passed through its doors and it became closely linked with the cultural and sporting life of the city over several decades.

Located beside some of Waterford’s best known attractions, including Reginald’s Tower, the property is considered one of the most historic licensed premises in the city.

While the Munster name has now passed into history, many locals will remember it as one of Waterford’s great gathering places, known as much for its atmosphere and characters as for the building itself.

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