Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders issued last month include evidence of rodent activity including a rat carcass removed from an area near the kitchen and rodent droppings on the floor and behind panelling
Several Irish food businesses were hit with Closure Orders by the FSAI last month – stock photo
A total of seven food businesses across Ireland were issued with closure orders in May, including a popular Dublin pub which was ordered to close due to the presence of rodent droppings.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issued seven closure orders last month, shutting businesses for a number of reasons, including The Hole in the Wall pub located next to the Phoenix Park in Cabra, in Dublin, which was ordered to close after mouse drops were found in several areas.
Food businesses are served closure orders “where it is deemed there is or is likely to be” a danger to public health at the premises.
The closure orders handed out to seven food businesses last month were issued by environmental health officers in the HSE and by officers of the FSAI.
You can find the full list of establishments issued with closure orders in May 2026 below.
Hole in the Wall pub(Image: Google Maps)
Two Closure Orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:
Mace (Closed area: Prefab food storage unit (external to the premises)) (Retailer), Slane Road, Harmonstown, Navan, Meath: This Meath supermarket was ordered to close its prefab storage unit on May 27 as the ceiling was in disrepair and had subsequently fallen into the room, while it was determined that foodstuffs stored in the external prefab were not protected against contamination. Inspectors noted that “a large hole with daylight, plasterboard, insulation and rotten wood was in close proximity and above foodstuffs such as minerals and beverages.” They also said in their report that “physical contamination was evident throughout the prefab, such as flaking plasterboard, dust accumulation and cobwebs posing a real risk of food contamination. Food contact packaging stored in the prefab was not protected against contamination. The falling ceiling was hanging overhead and in contact with food packaging materials on shelving posing a significant risk of contamination.” The health inspectors report also noted that adequate pest procedures and proofing was not in place to control the ingress of pests, while “animal hair was found on a pallet storing food contact packaging”. The Closure order was lifted the following day on May 28.Sheela Palace (Restaurant/Café), Liffey Valley Complex, Fonthill Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22: This Indian buffet restaurant located close to Dublin’s Liffey Valley shopping centre was issued with a closure order on May 7 after a rat carcass was discovered by pest control. Inspectors said there was evidence of rodent activity in the premises in both the bar areas and in the main kitchen area,while a rat carcass was also found and removed from an area near the kitchen. On inspection on May 6 and 7, the Environmental Health Officer noted disturbance of bait in one of the bait boxes located beside a mobile salad fridge in the main food production area and also rodent droppings in this area. Additionally rodent dropping were noted adjacent to another bait box located in the unused cocktail juice counter leading to the main bar area. Rodent droppings were also observed on the floor and behind panelling in the bar area. The closure order was lifted on May 15.
Stock image of food health inspector(Image: Getty)
Meanwhile, five Closure Orders were served last month under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
Hole in the Wall Pub, Blackhorse Avenue, Cabra, Dublin 7: This popular Dublin pub was ordered to close food storage areas in all first-floor store rooms, as well as prohibiting the preparation and service of food from the ground-floor kitchen on May 26. According to the inspector’s report, the food business operator failed to maintain the premises in a clean condition with a significant number of rodent droppings found also leading to a risk of contamination of food contact materials and packaging. The inspector noted “a significant number” of dried rat and mouse droppings throughout the premises that had not been cleaned up, while dried mouse droppings were found on the floor next to bottles of coffee syrups, boxes of straws, boxes of biscuits and crisps. It was also determined the food business and food handled within were not protected against contamination from pests due to the number of potential access points. The closure order was lifted on June 6.A table serving food (Retailer), Trading at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Mullingar, Westmeath: This retailer was issued with a closure order on May 20, and remains shut. Inspectors said an adequate number of hand wash basins were not present, while “several high-risk ready to eat food products were all stored at ambient temperatures above 5C”.Shapla Indian Spice (Restaurant/Café), Hanover Court, Kennedy Avenue, Carlow: This popular Indian restaurant was issued with a closure order on May 15 as “the standard of cleaning in the premises was insufficient”. Inspectors noted that “food preparation counters throughout the kitchen were dirty and greasy to touch. Meanwhile a “food handler was observed preparing raw chicken breasts wearing blue disposable gloves. He then proceeded to wipe the gloves with a dirty fabric towel and started preparing dough without washing his hands and putting on a new pair of gloves.” The closure order was lifted on May 22Captain’s Catch (Takeaway), Parnell Street, Limerick: This Limerick takeaway was served with a full Closure Order on May 13 as it exhibited a total failure to implement permanent food safety monitoring systems, presenting a significant risk to public health. It was also noted that staff were not wearing any personal protective equipment, while inspectors said “there is the potential for cross contamination due to uncovered foodstuffs in storage”. The closure order was lifted on May 15.Jilly & Joe’s (Closed activity: Cooling of cooked foods including meat, poultry, gravies/sauces and vegetables such as rice and potato.) (Restaurant/Café), Dove Hill Centre, Ballynoran Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary: This Tipperary restaurant was served with a closure order on May 7 as “foods were not being cooled as quickly as possible or in conformance with the SOP for cooling and critical limit for cooling in the HACCP plan”. The closure order was lifted on May 28.
Commenting on the Closure Orders issued on May, Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive, FSAI, said: “The types of issues identified in a number of these Enforcement Orders are concerning and point to clear failures in basic food safety controls.
“We continue to see lapses in hygiene, cleaning and safe food handling practices, alongside evidence of pest activity in some food premises.
“These are fundamental requirements that every food business is legally obliged to meet. Food safety management systems are not optional; they must be properly implemented, maintained and monitored in practice. Where these basic standards are not met, there is a risk to public health and appropriate enforcement action will continue to be taken where necessary.”
Details of the food businesses served with Enforcement Orders are published on the FSAI’s website. Closure Orders and Improvement Orders will remain listed in the enforcement reports on the website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue, with Prohibition Orders being listed for a period of one month.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.