‘Sad to see' – Irish punters left devastated as popular 300-year-old pub closes for good

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

PUNTERS have been left devastated after a popular Irish pub served its final pint over the weekend.
The Ramble Inn in Halfway, Co
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The Ramble Inn has been the only pub in Halfway since the Colman's bar closed its doors 20 years ago
Credit: daft.ie
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Alan bought the Irish pub in 1981
Credit: daft.ie
The traditional Irish
Its closure marked the end of a 44-year era under Alan and Mary Barry's stewardship.
Previous owners had included the Sullivan and Hanely families.
The renowned Ramble Inn licensed premises is likely to date to the 1800s, with property deeds unearthed to 1709 related to then-landowner Sir Thomas Barter.
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The Ramble Inn is situated within the village of Halfway just off the Bandon Road (N71), close to the neighbouring village of Ballinhassig, Co Cork.
It has been the only pub in Halfway since the Colman's bar closed its doors 20 years ago.
Alan Barry told
He said: 'There was just the bar and a bit of yard.
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'I was in the plant and transport business at the time, working in the docks and for the council, and I made a go of the pub alongside that.'
Alan bought the pub from Joe Hanley and since then it has become the centre point for family events, community gatherings and local events.
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Speaking about the closure, Alan listed some of the reasons for pubs' demise across the country.
He continued: "Home drinking has become very, very popular, especially since the pandemic, and I blame the supermarkets and cheap drink for that.'
'It's sad to see what's happening with the pubs throughout rural Ireland. It's the way of life gone, you know?
'All these places made a living. That's during the famine. And they kept the doors open. Now we're closing them.'
Alan said the Irish pub is for sale as there is no one in the family interested in continuing to run the business.
The Ramble Inn is now for
The two-acre property includes the three-bedroom owners' residence and a useful arrangement of external outhouses
And the majority of the lands are situated within the Development Boundary of Halfway as designated under the Cork County Development Plan 2022-2028 with an objective "to encourage the development of up to 10 additional dwelling units during the plan period."
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The Ramble Inn called last orders as the boozer closed its doors for good
Credit: daft.ie