We enjoyed a bit of a hooley in Cooley’s of Ennistymon and pints were just €5
There were two barmaids on duty when we arrived and they were under severe pressure throughout our stay but they were both friendly and welcoming.
AFTER the comforts of drinking on our patch in the capital last weekend, the Old Commando was eager for another trip out west and this time he had his sights set on the Banner County.
It has been almost 14 months since our previous visit to Co Clare and we knew there would be a mighty atmosphere in the pubs as the summer has arrived and the Munster hurling championship is in full swing.
“They live and breathe hurling down in Munster,” the Old Commando said as our pub mobile veered off the M6 and on to the M18, southbound from Galway to Clare. “And Clare won’t be too far off the Liam McCarthy cup this year.”
Aside from a very brief journey through Ennistymon six years ago, it had been many years since Pub Spy and the crew had stopped off in this old market town for a proper session — but we got a lot more than we bargained for when we arrived at Cooley House.
The guitars, multiple microphones and bodhráns were all on display and a random traditional Irish music session had broken out. The tourists loved it, and so did we!
There was a mixed clientele of all ages although it was predominately male with the customers ranging from all over the country and even a few from Canada.
“I don’t think the pub even hired that crowd,” one local told us as we tried to order our drinks. “They just arrived with all the gear and they’re bloody good too,” he joked with the Old Commando.
There were two barmaids on duty when we arrived and they were under severe pressure throughout our stay but they were both friendly and welcoming and never let the stress take the smile from their faces. In fact, the Young Commando described them both as “good aul craic”.
Hop House 13, Birra Moretti and Coors are just some of the drinks available on draught but it was the creamy pints of Guinness that we were sipping and they were reasonably priced by today’s standards at €5 each.
“I never thought I’d say a fiver for a pint is a good price but there you have it,” the Old Commando bemoaned.
The red velvet barstools were in good condition as was the green velvet covered bench seating and the old bare concrete floor was swept clean. The timber floor towards the rear of the pub is probably in excess of 30 years old but it is in keeping with the overall tone of the pub.
A lovely coal fire was burning away and while it was chilly outside and an open fire is normally welcome, it was so busy inside there was hardly any need for it.
There are two framed football jerseys hanging on the wall just inside the front door but we were surprised to see they belonged to Sunderland and Crystal Palace — not the most common of jerseys you’d see in pubs in Ireland.
Another framed collection on display just above the jerseys had the old Irish pound notes and we also noticed a licence plate commemorating the 2013 Liam McCarthy victory for the Clare hurlers. Perhaps they might have a 2024 version later in the year?
There’s one TV in the pub at the end of the room but nobody was paying much attention to it as the musicians were keeping us entertained and the barmaids were keeping us topped up.
The Young Commando inspected the toilets and he reported that while they were clean they were also very tight for space. The stainless steel urinal was very small and there is one cubicle. The expression ‘three’s a crowd’ would be applicable.
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Ennistymon and to Cooley House and we’d certainly recommend a visit.
Rating: Three pints out of Five
