1 pub, 7 generations, 250 years.

I passed a little bar near Farranes the other day and noticed an old lady at the door. It was off the moterway from Cork to Macroom so a difficult to turn back, but I thought It might be worth it so I turned. It was worth it. Horan’s pub, run by Carmal Horan is a real gem of a bar. I went in for a coke, there was no-one in there and I immediately got chatting with Carmel, who told me the bar was 250 years old and was in her Husbands family for 7 generations, all of which she could name.

I asked her how the pub was faring, it was on a main road so I thought it must be o.k. Not so, unfortunately. She has had 3 punters in in the last few days. The pub, she said would have sunk if it was not also her home. Her husband passed away recently and word quickly went round that she was selling up. She had no intention, but word went round and she has been approached several times. The last time, two indian gentlemen offered her a large sum of cash and told her they wanted to start an Indian restaraunt, possibly knocking the pub to do so.

Carmel is not confident of the pub’s future, in fact she is utterly bleak “pubs are dead’ she said and proceeded to reel of a list of local bars that had shut. ‘No money in it’ ‘Nobody has time for a drink anymore’ ‘Drink driving laws have everyone scared’ and her kids don’t want to take it on. Thus ending the 7 generations. That’s pretty sad isn’t it? Carmel shared some fond memories of the bar and the characters that had frequented it, that are all now gone. I have her on video. It makes me wonder, is there any point at all? The country will change, nothing will stop that. People will drink in super pubs and eat in Indians. They will be happy with that and oblivious to what went before. Am I completely wrong in thinking that there should be a preservation order on a 250 year old pub?

Ballinspittle down from 3 to 1.

Ballinspittle, the village past Kinsale in south west Cork and famous for it’s moving statues, (the Statue of the Virgin got jiggy one day and caused a new wave of Catholic fervour to spread across the country. My family, like many families made the trip to see this miracle but were unable to witness it, my Mother sensibly put it down to our Protestantism) used to have three pubs. In the space of a couple of months it has been reduced to one.
Nash’s was a lovely pub, old style, low lighting, good pool table upstairs, and owned by a friendly biker. It shut it’s doors a few months back.
Not long later the Corner bar announced it’s departure. The Corner bar was frequented by the older crowd. This leaves Ballinspittle with one Pub and one happy Pub owner too. Now there is no choice and the pub left has enlarged and aint very charming I must say.

Nancy Spains gone to Pub heaven.

Nancy’s was a hot spot for many years on Barrack street, especially for the gigs it put on out back. I remember going to see the legendary ‘Scottish Sex pistols’ there, a tribute band. I was thoroughly enjoying the gig when I noticed a friend, Shane O’Brien (seasoned Punk enthusiast) looked completly unimpressed. He later revealed that he had seen pictures of the Scottish Sex pistols and these lads were not them…they were imposters. Alas, their manager confirmed the travesty after the gig. The ‘Real’ scottish sex pistols were unable to play and so he hired in a bunch of musicians who learned the chords the night before. A tribute of a tribute band! Didn’t stop Val, another friend from giving them a detailed interview for a fanzine. Apparently it is being done up and will re-open as a pub, that’s good news…better not be a bleedin’ Tapas bar though, like what they did to the Lobby bar.
Anyone else remember good gig’s at Nancy’s?

Quinn Ryan to shut its doors after over 50 years.

The Quinn Ryan, a landmark pub on Barrack street, Cork City, has the for sale sign up. Obviously the locals inside are none too pleased. Many have been supping there, playing cards and rings for upwards of 30 years. According to it’s proprietor the Pub isn’t as viable as it used to be and after 15 years running it fancies a change. fair enough.
Chatting to the locals inside, I got a really strong feeling of genuine sadness. They explained to me the close knit nature of the community who frequented it, and explained how they were at a loss as to how this community can be carried on. As many as 8 of the older bars have shut down on the single street in recent years leaving only two of the originals. Tom Barry’s is doing well, even expanding, but as one patron of the Quinn Ryan told me, Tom Barry’s aims solely at the student market and discourages older locals from frequenting the place.

There once were 30 ring teams on Barrack street, now there is one. ‘Don’ a game of cards specific to the area is played less and less. ‘It’s the Government!’ one said ‘The smoking ban for God’s sake!’ said another, another fella concisely explained that the older generation of Barrack street denizens are simply passing on and the new generation are not interested in staying local. The same man asked me straightforwardly what our kids were going to do for a bit of real culture when they reach the age.

a Czech man in his forties sat at the bar and told me that this bar was where he made his first Cork friends, he was melancholic at the thought of it closing and explained that he had wanted to see some real Ireland and is amazed to see how quickly it is dissapearing. He made the effort to be interested in the local community and was immediatly accepted. That’s real integration. Not this equality authority shite they feed us constantly. Bye the bye, the same Czech man told me that it was strange for him to see how well the 37 Irish bars were doing in Prague and how badly they are doing in Ireland. This country, he went on to say, would become less attractive to tourists if the trend continued. Makes sense.

The Quinn Ryan raises money for Chernobyl every year, amongst other good deeds. It organises outings on Sundays for it’s patrons. Thats culture, thats real society. I wonder what charity the Rebel bar group involves itself with?