‘It’s worth the seven-hour trip just to visit Ó Riada’s!’ - Pub Spy
Sunday World crowns Ó Riada’s and Tatler Jacks among Irish top ten
ONE of the world’s most famous Irish traditional musicians, Sharon Shannon is set to return to one of the top ten public houses in Ireland on Friday week.
Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott is the venue for a concert on Friday night, January 12.
This will be the fourth visit to this venue by the ever appealing Co Clare-born musical genius in as many years. The doors will open at 7pm and the show will begin at 8pm.
Ms. Shannon will be accompanied by her musical partner, Alan Connor.
The concert and its timing has become an increasingly popular ticket gift occasion around the New Year and Nollaig na mBan.
Tickets are on sale now from Ó Riada’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballymacelligott.
The concert coincides with the launch tour of Sharon Shannon’s latest CD Sacred Earth - with which she has embarked on a nationwide tour.
If the November just gone was a good one for all at Ó Riada’s – with a glowing report in the ‘Pub Spy’ column of The Sunday World and an invitation from Sharon Shannon to Mary and John to attend the Ray D’Arcy Show special in the RTÉ television studios – there’s more.
On Sunday, the very last day of 2017, The Sunday World announced its top ten pubs in Ireland – from all those they has surveyed in the course of the year.
Ó Riada’s was there amongst the top scorers and along with only one other Kerry pub, The Tatler Jack in Killarney.
The latter is owned by Castleisland native, Eddie ‘ Tatler’ O’Sullivan and the Castleisland influence didn’t end there. Albeit unknown to ‘ The World’ while praising Ó Riada’s to the ceiling – quite literally they had put a focus on the work of two gifted locals: the late artist / sculptor, Mike Kenny and his Killarney Road neighbour, carpenter / joiner, Joe Sheehy who constructed and designed the ceiling between them.
“Everything about this pub was impressive and every publican should make it their business to see how a proper pub is run the right way,” said the gushing ‘spy’ in November.
However, he/she/it flipped a lid altogether in Sunday’s top ten report:
“It’s worth the seven-hour round trip journey just to see the ceiling in this pub. It’s majestic, to say the least. In fact, the whole pub is a sight to behold and there are not enough good things we could say about it. Everything from the grandfather clock in the corner to the sparkling timber floor make this pub one of, if not the most, attractive pubs in Ireland.”
The report was accompanied with a five-pint, top rating.
If bragging rights were at stake here that rating is one more than ‘ The Tatler’ got.
Even so, the Tatler’s report also glowed with praise:
“This was a real treat for our Old Commando as the whole pub is covered in GAA memorabilia – and not just confined to Kerry GAA.
“We saw jerseys from Offaly, Meath, Armagh, Dublin anf limerick to name but a few. It’s like a museum for GAA enthusiasts.
The price of the pint at €4.25 and the atmosphere was top drawer. This is a must-visit pub if you’re in Killarney.’
Anyway, the Sharon Shannon concert tickets are available from Ó Riada’s now from €20 each on an unreserved seating, first come basis.
Further information about the big gig and other forthcoming events at Ó Riada’s is available on: (087) 2064119.