Mayo restaurateurs to hold rally outside Leinster House over ‘deeply disappointing’ Budget 2025

In a united response to Budget 2025, restaurateurs and other hospitality businesses from Mayo will travel to Dublin to hold a rally outside of Leinster House next Tuesday, October 15.

This rally, organised by the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and other small business representative groups, is in reaction to the lack of government support shown to the hospitality sector and SMEs more generally in last week’s budget.

Members of the RAI, the wider hospitality industry and other small business groups will assemble at 1 p.m. on Mount Street Upper before marching past the Department of Finance and holding a rally outside Leinster House from 2 to 4 p.m., when business owners will speak about the current challenges they face.

CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, has called on members of the hospitality industry and local communities to attend in large numbers, stating: “Restaurateurs, small coffee shop owners, publicans and others in the hospitality industry are hardworking people operating in what is currently an incredibly challenging business environment.

“They would much rather be serving great food and welcoming guests than travelling to Dublin to protest.

“Unfortunately, the lack of support for hospitality and small businesses in Budget 2025 made this demonstration inevitable.

“Next Tuesday, we will march to voice our frustration with the budget and to demand that hospitality and tourism – our country's largest indigenous industry – receive the recognition they deserve in upcoming general election manifestos and the next Programme for Government.”

Paul Lenehan, president of the RAI, echoed this sentiment, adding: “I’m urging everyone impacted by the challenges facing the hospitality sector and SMEs to join us next Tuesday. Together, we can send a strong message to the government ahead of the general election.”