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Posted on 03/26/2019 12:29:07 PM PDT by LibWhacker
Sean’s Bar has been in business since the Dark Ages, and many locals and respected Irish historians also believe it to be the oldest in Europe and the world.
[...snip...]
Sean’s Bar, with its woodchip-covered floor and walls made of wattle and wicker interwoven with horse hair and clay, has been in business since the Dark Ages. Located near to the ruins of a 12th-Century Norman Castle, it is the oldest extant public house in Ireland, a claim officially certified by Guinness World Records in 2004. But many, including the current owners and plenty of Athlone regulars and respected Irish historians, also believe it to be the oldest in the world.
“Just imagine how much history this place has seen,” Donovan said, gazing out across the low-ceilinged bar beyond the morning’s first trickle of customers. “I’ve been researching our history for 30-odd years and no other pub comes close.”
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Do they have a slogan?
“Sean’s Bar. Keeping Ireland Drunk for 1600 Years!”
I inbibed in many a 400 year old pub when I lived in England. Great places, and you can’t beat the ambience.
Have you heard the one about the 3 Irishmen who walk out of a bar?
Neither have I.
Same here. I found one in Cork, Ireland that was several hundred years old. Small place, family owned and run. They have to keep it in the family to keep their annual one penny lease intact.
I asked the older woman behind the bar, drawing Guiness drafts, where the men's toilet was. Pointing to the back door she said, "It's out that door and anywhere between the stoop and Dublin will serve ya."
That would explain the decline of the Vikings in Ireland.
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I’ve been to “Ye old Trip”, visited and stayed with friends from Nottingham, great time. It was Guy Fawkes Day so it turned out to be a right piss-up!
Ha yes, it would be on Nov 5th :-)
Time Team show investigating the history of three pubs, The Bell Inn, Ye Olde Salutation Inn and Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, each of which claims to be the oldest in Nottingham.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOA8G0JMklE
I’ve not seen that one! Thanks for the link!
Made it out to the Cotswolds, nice old tavern there, did my part to support the local economy.
Very good to know. More drinking in more local pubs is great for the local economy! I do my best, too.
It's tough finding Somalians who can block and tackle. :)
I spent some time in Dublin back in the 90’s and my favorite really old traditional Irish pub was the Brazen Head which is definitely medieval, I believe 11th century. There must be some debate about just which one is oldest, because I was under the impression that the Brazen Head was.
Pubtender AOC was born in the Dark Ages.
I was in one that passed out match books that declared 'Est. 1620'. I pointed to a very old ceramic backstop, and asked the waiter if it was made in 1620.
He looked at me indignantly and declared "Of course not. We totally remodeled in 1810".
Wow, I’d love to go to one of these places! I just might become a regular (if they didn’t throw my American a$$ out)... Yes! They mention the Brazen Head in the article, apparently it opened its doors in 1198AD vs. 900AD for Sean’s. I think I’d be awe struck in either one of them. Lucky you!!! :-)
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