Page 332 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

330  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

KILLALA: Golden Acres Co Mayo. CROLLY: Leo’s Tavern SLIGO: Shoot the Crows
Road map B2. Tel 096 32183. Meenaleck, Co Donegal. Grattan St, Co Sligo.
This comfortable pub is located Road map C1. Tel 074 954 8143. Road map C2. Tel 071 916 2554.
near the major activity centres of the Owned by the father of modern This authentic, old-world pub attracts
area. Deep-sea fishing, golf and boat folk musicians Clannad and of all kinds of colourful characters and
trips are all within walking distance the singer Enya, this friendly pub has a great atmos phere, especially in
of this homely country bar. It attracts locals and tourists for its the evenings. Music is ambient jazz
features wholesome pub food. sing-songs round the accordion, ceili and traditional Irish.
07 and traditional music nights.
07 STRANDHILL: Strand House Bar
OUGHTERARD: The Boat Inn Strandhill, Co Sligo.
Main St, Connemara, Co Galway. CULDAFF: McGrory’s Road map C2. Tel 071 916 8140.
Road map B3. Tel 091 552196. Co Donegal. The turf fire here warms the surfers
This hotel, bar and restaurant is Road map C1. Tel 074 937 9696. from the nearby beach, while the
located next to Lough Corrib on the On the idyllic Inishowen Peninsula snugs make for perfect one-to-
edge of Connemara. The lively, (see pp230–31), this is a place of one conversations over a pint
bright boat-shaped bar serves local quality food and drink. McGrory’s or some food. 0
craft beers, whiskeys, coffee, home- restaurant caters for up to 60 diners
cooked bar food and snacks. Local in a comfortable yet stylish setting.
musicians perform at weekends and The Backroom Bar, also located in The Midlands
on weekdays during the summer. the pub, is a top music venue,
There is also a beer garden for featuring live music of all kinds. ABBEYLEIX: Morrissey’s
alfresco drinking and dining. 07 07 Main St, Co Laois.
Road map C4. Tel 057 873 1281.
WESTPORT: Matt Molloy’s DONEGAL: O’Donnell’s If driving through County Laois, it is
Bridge St, Co Mayo. The Diamond, Co Donegal. worth stopping at this genuinely
Road map B3. Tel 098 26655. Road map C2. Tel 074 972 1049. traditional pub. The 18th-century inn
Founded by the eponymous flautist This middle-of-the-road venue was remodelled in the Victorian era
from the traditional Irish folk band has a small bar. A larger lounge and has stayed the same ever since.
The Chieftains, this deceptively in the back is used for live The grocery section survives while
spacious pub is designed along performances and karaoke nights. the plain and unpretentious bar
equally traditional lines. There is Local musicians entertain here on serves simple bar snacks. 0
live music in the back room every any given night. 7
evening, when the pub is packed. If CARLINGFORD: PJ O’Hare’s Anchor Bar
Molloy himself isn’t touring with the DROMAHAIR: Stanford Village Inn Tholsel St, Co Louth.
band, he often joins in the session. Main St, Co Leitrim. Road map D3. Tel 042 937 3106.
Road map C2. Tel 071 916 4140. Known locally as PJ’s, this atmos pheric
WESTPORT: The Porterhouse Set in a picturesque village, this pub and grocery store is popular
Bridge Street, Co Mayo. traditional pub has been in the with sailors and locals alike. A friendly
Road map B3. Tel 098 28014. same family for generations. The and often eccentric welcome is
Just next door to Matt Molloy’s tiny, quaint Biddy’s Bar remains matched by bar food such as oysters
(above), The Porterhouse is a rustic unchanged, adorned with family and sandwiches. Music is played in
old-fashioned pub with wooden portraits and old grocery jars. the summer. 07
floors and low ceilings, with a heated The main bar has mellow
beer garden to the rear. There is brick work and flagstones from CRINKILL: The Thatch
great traditional live music every a ruined castle. Delicious food Birr, Co Offaly.
night, with weekend afternoon is on offer all day in the summer Road map C4. Tel 05791 20682.
sessions too during the summer. and there are often impromptu Mooted as the traditional pub,
evening music sessions. 0 the Thatch is one of the oldest pubs
in South Offaly and, as its name
Northwest Ireland SLIGO: Hargadons suggests, has always been thatched.
5 O’Connell St, Co Sligo. It has won All Ireland Pub of the Year
BURTONPORT: The Lobster Pot Road map C2. Tel 071 915 3714 five times and certainly lives up to its
Co Donegal. This is an old world pub that sports reputation. Children are welcome. 0
Road map C1. Tel 074 954 2012. an authentic interior to match.
This cosy, friendly pub lies near the Tasty bar food is available along DUNDALK: The Jockeys
pier. The old timber surrounds of with a warm atmosphere. Take 47 Anne St, Co Louth.
the interior are used as a backdrop advantage of the popular summer Road map D3. Tel 042 933 4621.
to an incre d ible selection of Gaelic beer garden on balmy nights. 0 This friendly pub offers home-
sporting mem or abilia. The seafood cooked lunches daily at very
is renown ed as among the best in SLIGO: Osta reasonable prices. The walls are
the country, but other good dishes Stephen St, Sligo. covered in Gaelic Athletic
are served as well, including steak. Road map C2. Tel 071 914 4639. Association mementos (see p33),
All food is cooked to order. The This airy wine bar is located on the portraying its proud Gaelic sports’
house speciality is The Titanic – a bank of the Garavogue river. The tradition. This pub has been in
platter of lobster and other locally wines have been hand-picked by existence, in one guise or another,
caught seafood and fish, served those in the know. It’s also a good since 1799. Live music on Friday
with Guinness on tap. 0 7 stop for a bite to eat. 0 and Saturday nights. 07

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