The landscape is changing for Cork publicans.

These days, you need to offer more than a quiet pint and a darts board to entice customers in the door all year ’round.

Up in St Luke’s, one family is blending the old and the new to create a new breed of bar designed to put the local pub back at the centre of the community.

Owner of St Luke’s Inn, Jerry Carroll has been joined in the business by his three daughters, Olivia, Ellen and Gemma.

For the past few months, all four have been working together to relaunch their pub, transforming it into a space for locals to meet for coffee, chats, games nights and local business events, as well as Friday night gin and tonics.

There’s a Monthly Book Club (third Thursday of every month, 7.30pm) and Cork’s Little Business Meet Up (first Thursday of every month, 7.30pm).

Other quirky ideas include flower arranging, Doggie Dates, a meet-up for dog lovers with Vincent de Paws, a Games Night with Good Day News, a Christmas Jumper event with St Luke’s Welcomes and a Reggae and Non Alcoholic Beer Night, all to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

‘They gave me energy’

The plan is working and this Saturday, October 12th, 2019, the family has extended and open invitation to their relaunch party at St Luke’s Inn, located across from the historic St Luke’s toll booth.

“They brought the business back to life, they gave me energy, they thought of things I would never have thought of.” says Jerry, who has worked in the industry for 50 years.

Talking about her father, Gemma said: “None of this would be possible without our Dad, he’s a quiet character, who the customers love, a real gentleman. We’re using his experience of 50 years in the trade and just tweaking it a bit.”

“We’ve looked at what is missing in the community and set up a book club and small business meet up. We’ve partnered with the community working with Shine A Light, St Luke’s Welcomes, Vincent de Paws, and local artists. We’re asking the community what they need and want.”

The relaunch bash kicks off at 8pm on Saturday, October 12th, with music bingo and spot prizes aplenty.

You can check out the latest events on the St Luke’s Inn Facebook page here.