Hargadon Bros. Pub & Restaurant - Sligo
Hargadon Bros. Pub, in the centre of Sligo town, is legendary. This 19th century pub still retains its original facade and interior - dark wood wall panelling, mahogany counters, stone floors, old shelves and whiskey jars, a pot bellied stove, alcoves and four snugs. It is such a classic that the the Abbey Theatre used a replica for the set of J.B.Keane's play, The Field, both in Dublin and on its historic Russian tour.
The original pub dates back to around 1864. Patrick and Thomas Hargadon, two brothers - hence the name Hargadon Bros. - bought the pub back in 1908 from a local MP called Collery. Patrick's son, Michael inherited it and he is still remembered in Sligo today – he spent his entire life in the pub and even in the late 1990’s, despite being wheelchair bound, he would be carried downstairs to his front lounge, to watch over the comings and goings in the pub, and to be carried back upstairs at night when the pub finally closed.
In a country where music is very often at the heart of an Irish pub, Hargadon's Bar was pretty unique. It had a general house rule for over a century that music was not to be played there and the rule remained right up until 2005, with the exception of the visit of the Fleadh Ceoil to Sligo in the 1990’s. Visitors were often amazed to learn that a "no music" policy was in place - neither a sound system of any kind nor even a television were allowed in the pub, which instead resonated to the sound of conversation, particularly in the evenings. Well, Hargadon’s still very much resonates to the sound of conversation today and we are glad to say, there is still no TV, but local musicians do now perform, usually on Saturday nights.
Hargadon’s, like many long established public houses in Ireland, was also a grocers and a major whiskey bonder before the 1970’s. It bottled its own whiskey, bought in the cask from distilleries, and also its own Guinness. Some old empty Hargadon whiskey bottles can still be spotted on top shelves and there’s a lovely framed print of the Hargadon whiskey label in one of the front snugs. The pub now has a very good selection of different Irish whiskeys, though like the pub’s interior, it takes a while to get to grips with the location of each bottle, as they are spread across both the front and back bars. All the better really, it would be a real shame to rush your choice when sitting in a pub like this. The time it takes to select your whiskey will give you an opportunity to strike up one of those Hargadon conversations.
The pub closed in 2006-2007 for refurbishment and so sensitive was the local council to the internal and external architecture of the pub, that it became more like a major restoration project. Sligo people breathed a sigh of relief when it finally re-opened in 2008 - bigger than before (Michael Hargadon's old front lounge is now part of the pub) but in many ways unchanged from the Hargadon’s they had known and loved for so long.
There is excellent bar food served 12-3.30pm every day, except Sundays. They have also recently added a tapas bar from 4-8.30pm Thursday to Saturday with a very good choice of wines. Sligo is famous as the birth place of W.B. Yeats, but has also become well known for having Ireland's best surfing conditions. Strandhill with its massive thundering waves, or the gentler Rosses Point with its miles of golden sands are a must and would make a perfect invigorating prelude before hitting Hargadon's Pub for some good food and drink!
Pete McCarthy, who wrote the classic and hilarious book “McCarthy’s Bar” loved Hargadon’s and we can understand why. Whatever it is you’re after – whiskey, good food, conversation, quiet contemplation or Irish “craic”, you are likely to find it in Hargadon Bros.
Hargadon Bros. - 4-5 O'Connell Street, Sligo.
Tel. + 353 (0)71 9153709
Email: jgrogan@eircom.net
Local Tourist Info and Accommodation: http://www.discoverireland.ie/northwest/where-to-go/sligo.aspx
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