O’Loclainn's Irish Whiskey Bar – Ballyvaughan
This warm and cosy traditional Irish pub is a haven for those who like the charm of old fashioned surroundings and quiet conversations. Located in the village of Ballyvaughan, in the heart of the Burren in Co. Clare, you’d have to be in an awful hurry somewhere not to be tempted by the freshly painted bright green and white exterior. Step inside and you’ll want to forget you ever intended spending the next few hours anywhere else.
The pub is owned by Peter O’Loghlen, a local farmer, and it dates back in its present form to 1935 when the building was purchased by Peter’s father, McNeill o’Loghlen, which explains why the pub is still locally known as McNeills. The building itself dates back to the 1840’s and was once a shop blending not whiskey, but tea, hence some of the wonderful old shop fittings you’ll notice about the place.
This pub is small. Which makes the impressive collection of about 200 bottles of Irish and Scottish whiskies look even more impressive. Peter’s father is credited with starting this magnificent collection. Only about 30 different whiskeys are actually for sale, but we reckon that is more than enough to keep you coming back to O’Loclainn's again and again. The pub’s signature whiskey is Green Spot Pure Pot Still, a lovely gentle Irish whiskey which, just like O’Loclainn's Irish Whiskey Bar, is a throw back to times past.
Do plan to spend plenty of time in O’Loclainn's but don’t arrive too early! It doesn’t open until 8-9 pm, (or after Mass on a Sunday), as Peter is a farmer during the day. As you mellow into the evening, maybe to the echoes of the beat of a bodhrán, admire the old Cadbury’s display cabinet, once used to showcase Irelands iconic chocolate, now used for holding branded whiskey and special tasting glasses and the imposing mirror from the Persee’s Distillery in Galway which closed around 1913.
O’Loclainn's pub was recently voted best Bar in Ireland by Paul Clements in his popular book, Insight Travel Guide and also features in the recent book “The Irish Pub” by Turtle Bunberry and James Fennell.
O’Loclainn's is a great whiskey bar, but more than anything else, it’s a real warm and friendly old fashioned Irish pub. Peter is very proud to carry on in the tradition of his fore-fathers and we hope he and his family will continue to preside over this speciality bar, loved by locals and visitors alike. Unless you are passing through Ballyvaughan on a Sunday afternoon, we recommend you stay overnight in the village, so as not to miss an evening in O'Loclainn's.
O’Loclainn's Irish Whiskey Bar - Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Tel.: +353 (0)65 7077006
Web: www.irishwhiskeybar.com
|
