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Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Barmaid serves up old-school charm and fine pints at just €5.60 in Clancy's of Athy
While we can't say for certain that Pub Spy has never been to Clancy's over the past 52 years, we can say that it was a first for this particular batch of Commandos. Clancy's bar in Athy, Co Kildare was busy during our visit Despite being only one hour from our headquarters, we hadn't paid a visit to the south county Kildare town of Athy since 2013. Although he initially begged us to go anywhere in Meath so he could discuss the Leinster final with the locals, the Old Commando was more than happy to visit the Lilywhites and see what kind of mood the GAA fraternity in this county was like. 'They must be kicking themselves too, getting beaten by Louth and a first Leinster title since 2000 sitting there waiting for them,' the Old Commando said as he arrived in Athy town. 'Why don't you ask them when we go into the pub?' the Young Commando suggested. 'I'd say they'd love to chat to you about it,' he joked. The town of Athy has changed since we were last here with new roadways and no through access in the square area, but once we found our bearings and a parking space we walked along Leinster Street, eventually arriving at the front door of Clancy's pub. The red and white exterior was in very good condition with the local GAA and rugby flags flying out front. A sign on the window is advertising a live traditional music session every Thursday night and a slogan on the window states: 'Keep the spirit Irish'. 'I'm surprised some far left nut-job hasn't suggested that is an issue,' the Old Commando said, rolling his eyes. Established in 1903, this pub was exactly what the Old Commando expected it to be, and he was delighted with his surroundings when he stepped inside the front door. The front bar is very tight for space so we took our seats in the corner while the Young Commando placed our order with the dark haired barmaid on duty. She served him immediately but there was no time for chit chat as it just seemed to be getting busier and busier during our stay. He did note she was very mannerly and polite and the creamy pints of stout cost €5.60 each. While we can't say for certain that Pub Spy has never been to Clancy's over the past 52 years, we can say that it was a first for this particular batch of Commandos. The Old Commando sipped his Guinness and told us this was like stepping back in the '80s as he really savoured the atmosphere among the mixed clientele of locals. There is a variety of drinks available on draught such as Guinness Zero, Orchard Thieves, Rockshore lager and cider, Angelo Poretti, Birra Moretti and Coors, and the shelves and fridges were well stocked. There are two TVs in the front bar, both of which were showing live sports, and we noticed Leinster and Athy rugby flags draped from the ceiling along with a Manchester United flag, the former English football giants turned relegation candidates. No children are allowed on the premises here after 9pm and this is a rule our Commandos wholeheartedly agree with. Some of our troops would ban them outright if they ever became publicans. There are many GAA related photos hanging throughout the pub, including the Athy football team that lifted the senior football championship in 1987 in their centenary year, and upon viewing these photographs the Old Commando got an opening to start his taunting. 'You'll probably have to make space for the Kildare team of 2026 when they capture the Leinster title,' the Old Commando said as he ignited a debate and stirred some local diehards. The Young Commando skipped out to inspect the toilets and advised us they were far more modern than the front bar and most likely have been upgraded in recent years. There are three urinals, one cubicle, a powerful, modern hand dryer and a unique sink embedded in a Jameson barrel. We really enjoyed our few pints in Clancys and we'd love to call again. Rating: Three pints out of Five One for the road: The Nags Head – Athy Twelve years ago, we paid a visit to The Nags Head pub in Athy and were glad to report it's still in fine shape all these years later. An elderly barman served us as soon as we arrived and he shared a great rapport with all the locals, a predominately young to middle aged clientele, all of whom were on a first name basis with each other. There was a very good atmosphere with lots of joking and some interesting characters, and the pints of stout cost us €5.60 each. We're not big fans of pool tables so close to the counter area though, as we tend to feel uneasy as the players move around the table lining up their shots. The red velvet barstools and bench seating were in good condition and the Young Commando was full of praise for the toilet area, which he said was spotlessly clean. We enjoyed our handful of pints in this pub — although there was no trace of Del Boy or Trigger! Rating: Three pints out of Five
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Bunratty's fab JP Clarke's is Pub Spy's favourite bar so far in 2025 with pints at €6.20
This classic Clare boozer has all that is good about Irish pubs JP Clarke's in Bunratty, Co Clare was packed with drinkers and diners and is our favourite bar so far in 2025 Almost 12 years ago, Pub Spy and the team paid a flying visit to Bunratty on our way home from Sixmilebridge. To this day, the Old Commando still reminisces about the lovely pub in the heart of Bunratty where he reserved as much praise for the lovely steak dinner he had as he did the creamy pints of stout. When our designated driver announced at HQ this past week that were making the two-and-a-half hour trip to Co Clare, he perked up from behind his desk and suggested JP Clarke's as our venue of choice. 'I'm easy anyway, as long as there's good porter,' the Young Commando replied, who was still nursing a hangover from Rory McIlroy's golfing success at Augusta last weekend. We think he was just glad to get some sleep in the pub-mobile on the long journey down the M7. We arrived at the busy boozer in the heart of Bunratty and our designated driver, who enjoys the simple things in life, was thrilled that there was a large car park provided at the front of the pub. The outdoor seating area was extremely busy with couples and families enjoying meals and the sunshine, but any such notion of our travelling crew sitting outside was immediately dismissed by the Old Commando. 'The high stool is the only job, as close to the taps and barman as possible,' he insisted. We were served by a barman named Barry who was ably assisted by a young barman and two waitresses. They were all friendly and welcoming, as you'd expect in a tourist haven like Bunratty. But one thing that did surprise us during our stay was just how often the pub landline phone rang. 'I think Barry has answered more calls than he has pulled pints,' the Young Commando joked. Its seemed unusual in this day and age, but it's a good sign when the phone is ringing as they were mostly for table bookings as far we could make out. The pints of Guinness were €6.20, an increase of €1.60 from our trip in 2013 and a further sign of how the Irish Government seems to have little or no interest in the tourism sector anymore despite the country's reliance on it. 'You'd wonder how long more before the Yanks and the likes start to really say enough is enough, Ireland's a rip off,' the Old Commando wondered. Our designated driver opted for Guinness Zero which is 50c cheaper at €5.70. They also have Heineken Zero, Orchard Thieves and Birra Moretti among other drinks on draught. We're glad to report that JP Clarke's pub is still as exceptional as it was 12 years ago and our Commandos couldn't find a fault anywhere. The flagstone floor tiles were very nice and the orange leather barstools were in excellent condition. There is one large screen TV in the main bar where we sat with a second TV in the next section. The floor-to-ceiling timber walling, which must be 20ft in some parts, is yet another beautiful feature in the pub, as well as the stone walls in the hallway leading to the toilets. While we hadn't the appetite (or price!) of a nice steak this time around, the Young Commando couldn't help himself and sampled a basket of chicken wings. He claimed they hit the spot as he licked his fingers clean. There was a good atmosphere in the front bar where it was more of a younger clientele while the second section was far busier by headcount but much quieter as it was mostly elderly tourists dining. The interior of this pub is immaculate and the toilets were exceptional too, with four urinals, two cubicles, two modern sinks and a hand dryer. We can't praise this pub highly enough and would say it's easily the most impressive pub we've visited in 2025 so far. Keep up the good work and Pub Spy will be back. Rating: Five pints out of Five One for the road: Durty Nellys – Bunratty THE Young Commando was delighted to see the outdoor seating area full of cackling hens when we arrived to Durty Nelly's pub in Bunratty. Unfortunately there was no seating left outside, so we made our way inside where the bar was just as busy, although it had more of a mixed clientele. They serve food and there is a restaurant area at the rear of the pub. However, our Young Commando was accosted by the bar staff as he walked towards this section in search of the toilets – they mustn't have liked the look of him. Guinness Zero, Birra Moretti and Harp are available on draught and they sell their own merchandise here, including signature t-shirts. The atmosphere was fantastic with a mixture of US and Irish tourists. The toilets checked out fine and the pint of Guinness is advertised at €5.80. Rating: Four pints out of Five
Sunday World
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
You won't be Horsing into the pints in Delgany's Horse & Hound with pints at a pricey €6.50
Wicklow boozer is a great spot with an amazing atmosphere but it is very much on the expensive side Nine years ago Pub Spy paid a very quick visit to the village of Delgany, Co Wicklow, but before that we can't remember when we made a visit. We were long overdue a good knees-up in Co Wicklow and we were interested to see how things might have changed over the past decade. As it turned out, very little has changed in the area with the exception of a few new houses, and the small village remains exactly how we remembered it. The streets leading to both pubs are very narrow and parking can prove hazardous at times. We managed to get parking close to the Horse and Hound pub but we left the fate of the pub-mobile in the hands of our Lord as we said a novena and blessed ourselves that we'd come back to find it in one piece. There were two barmen on duty when we arrived and the contrast between them couldn't have been any more stark. The barman with a beard served us immediately and he was certainly the chattier of the two. The second barman disappeared shortly after we arrived and we didn't see him again. There is a large selection of drinks available on draught such as Guinness and Heineken Zero, Murphy's, Wicklow Wolf, Tiger, Birra Moretti, Orchard Thieves and Coors to name but a few, but we were shocked when we had to pay €6.50 for a pint of Guinness. 'It's a good job they're building all those houses down the road 'cause the current locals will be bankrupt if they keep forking out that kind of money for a drink,' the Young Commando said jokingly. Once he had recovered from a suspected stroke and managed to lift his jaw off the ground, the Old Commando sampled the creamy pints and although he was far from impressed by the price, he did at least enjoy the taste. He enjoyed the second and third pints too. There was a mixed clientele of mostly young to middle aged people when we arrived but the longer we stayed the busier it got, and the crowd arriving was getting younger as the night was getting longer. The atmosphere was very good and we were very content as we sat beside the modern cylinder shaped stove which was burning logs of timber and keeping us nice and toasty. A votive candle was placed on each table. The red velvet barstools at the counter were old but in good condition, and the same could be said for the bench seating and timber flooring. While the furnishings certainly aren't new, they suited the surroundings and it's the type of boozer the Old Commando wishes there was more of. With the exception of the stove and the TVs, there's probably nothing modern about the place. They serve food here in the front bar and there is also a large restaurant section behind the front bar downstairs, although it didn't seem to be open during our visit. There are plenty of hunting photos hanging through this pub, which was established in 1790, and they have advertised a live traditional music session every Wednesday from 9.30pm. Our Young Commando inspected the toilets and he reported back to us that they were very clean with three urinals and three cubicles. We enjoyed our few expensive pints in The Horse and Hound pub in Delgany, and thankfully the pub-mobile was in one piece when we got back to it. Rating: Three pints out of Five One for the road: Wicklow Arms – Delgany We've already bookmarked a return visit to this pub. As best as our memory tells us, we had never been to The Wicklow Arms pub in Delgany before but it made an instant impression on us. Established in 1856, this spacious boozer is in wonderful condition with high ceilings, a brilliant atmosphere and a predominately female clientele. The yellow velvet barstools were in good condition and plentiful, as was the green velvet wall seating. We counted five TVs located throughout the bar. A young barman named Josh served us and there were two waitresses on duty during our stay. They were serving food in one section at the far end of the pub and our stomachs were grumbling each time the wait staff passed our table. As expected, the toilets were immaculately clean with two cubicles and four urinals. We were extremely impressed by our surroundings and fully intend to return for a longer stint. Keep up the good work. Rating: Four pints out of Five
