Shane Lowry and his Westmeath business partner given green light for Tullamore gastropub

Shane Lowry and his Westmeath business partners' plans to transform the building that housed the Tullamore Dew visitor centre into a cafe, gastropub and music venue have been given the green light by Offaly County Council.

The firm Emante Limited, a partnership between the Clara golfer and Clonmellon native Alan Clancy, acquired the historic Tullamore building, the Old Bonded Warehouse, from William Grand & Sons in November.

Clonmellon native Alan Clancy is a prominent figure in the hospitality sector in Ireland and operates a string of bars, hotels, restaurants and nightclubs across the country, including the House venues in Dublin, Belfast and Limerick, 37 Dawson Street in Dublin, the Oyster Tavern in Cork, and Larry and Nora's in Navan, which is named after his late parents.

Lowry isn't the first big name from the world of sport that he has entered a partnership with. Dublin GAA legend Bernard Brogan is a partner in Brogan's pub in Kilkenny, which opened in 2017.

Speaking in November when the acquisition was announced, Clancy said: “We’re delighted to acquire The Old Bonded Warehouse. We look forward to doing our part to boost the local economy in the years ahead and will be sharing more plans about the building next year.”

In a statement released when the sale of the building was announced, William Grant & Sons said the deal came following an extensive consultation and competitive bidding process to select an appropriate new owner for the historic building.

Speaking about the sale, David Moore, Tullamore D.E.W. Head of Marketing, said: “Built in 1879, The Old Bonded Warehouse is an integral part of the Tullamore D.E.W. brand history and, in recent years, has been a hugely popular destination in Tullamore for tourists and locals alike. We are pleased to work with Alan Clancy and Shane Lowry to ensure that it continues to be an important destination for the town of Tullamore.”