A judge has granted the transfer of the Black Forge Inn in Dublin ahead of its relaunch by MMA star Conor McGregor.
The premises was purchased earlier this year and a successful application was made today at Dublin District Court by new operators, Jemi Ventures Ltd, to transfer the pub licence.
The firm’s director is Alan Geraghty and the company secretary is Dee Devlin, McGregor’s partner.
The popular Drimnagh venue has been closed for a major revamp ahead of its reopening.
McGregor - who frequented the boozer as a local - is rumoured to be spending €1 million on a revamp.
He once famously dropped in on punters and handed out thousands of euro worth of his Proper 12 whiskey brand.
Along with Dee Devlin, McGregor’s fiancée and the mother of his two children, Geraghty is the director of the former UFC champ’s four main businesses in Dublin.
McGregor’s solicitor, Graham Kenny, served notice of the application for the licence transfer on Garda superintendents at Crumlin and Lucan stations, as well as the fire officer at Dublin Fire Brigade HQ, in August.
The pub licence had been held by Baymore Ld, of Terenure Place, D.6 which had received €2m from Jemi Ventures Ltd to take over the Black Forge Inn, at Drimnagh Road.
Judge Marie Quirke acceded to the application to transfer the licence to the new operators.
The Black Forge, a “wet” pub which did not serve food, has been shut since the first covid-19 lockdown in March. However, major renovations have been carried out to turn it into a gastropub since the new owners took over.
McGregor, who grew up in the area, had already been involved in running the pub’s football team.
