Drinks with friends

Three friends who opened their own pub in Dundalk have recently launched their own beer too. Cillian Mulligan, Paul Kelly and Vincent Mulligan set up Mo Chara, as not just a boozer but as a community taphouse for their hometown of Dundalk. Mo Chara focuses on the best the local community has to offer in a novel setting. The name ‘Mo Chara’ is inspired by their life-long friendship: opened in 2021, the venture has become a multigenerational hub of the community, offering topnotch pizzas and one of the widest ranges of craft beers in Ireland.

That range has increased, as the three 20-somethings have added Mo Chara Lager to what’s on offer. Tagged as ‘Lager na Daoine / The People’s Lager’, this beer is a clean and smooth 4.2% gluten-free lager that is distributed nationwide (if you can’t make it to Dundalk) and is available from independent off licences, bars and restaurants. The label references the interior of the Mo Chara premises, which was built in 1902. Before the trio arrived, the building in the heart of Dundalk had been home to the historic ‘Century Bar.’

Mo Chara showcases the arts and culture of the northeast, encouraging collaboration, musical performances by local artists, comedy nights, Mo’s Sunday Markets, Cocktail Canvas Club, and Pottery and Pints events.

Supporting local producers is important too, using ingredients in the kitchen to make Neapolitan-style pizza with Irish takeaway toppings. They also host kitchen pop-ups each month, inviting restaurants from all over Ireland to take over the kitchen for a night. Recent takeovers have included the popular Dublin Chinese restaurant, Big Fan. mo-chara.ie