All kinds of everything at Camp bar with the emphasis firmly on the positive
A SINGING dog, volkswagon beetles and relics of the old Tralee Dingle railway are just a few of the things that have helped make O’neill’s bar in Camp an institution in Kerry.
The Railway Tavern, perhaps better known to many as Mick Nail’s, has been an integral part of life in Camp and West Kerry for almost 30 years.
Lying just off the main Tralee Dingle Road, opposite the site of the old Camp railway station and commanding a simply incredible view over Tralee bay, the pub is known far and wide and there are few who regularly take the trip west from Tralee that haven’t sampled its charms.
Run by Michael “Mick Nail” O’neill and his family since 1983 the pub first opened it’s door in the early 1890s when it provided rest and refreshment for passengers on the newly opened Tralee Dingle rail line.
Opposite what was the largest station on the route the pub, originally opened by James Crean and Ellen Quirke quickly became a hub for anyone travelling through West Kerry.
In the early 1980s Michael O’neill, a native of Camp, returned to the area having spent several years working away from his beloved home.
The O’neill family had previously owned Tigh Tomsi’s in Cloghane before the family sold the Cloghane pub and bought the Railway Tavern in 1948.
Having grown up in Camp Mick O’neill spent many years away from West Kerry before he decided to return to the old family business and took over the Railway Tavern in 1983.
In the three decades since he took over the bar, which still features many items taken from the family’s old pub in Cloghane on its walls, word of the bar has spread far and wide.
One of the regular events that helped spread the word about the pub is its annual Volkswagon Beetle charity runs. Mick O’neill has a passion for the classic cars, one sits permanently on display in the pub’s car park, and over the years he’s received hundreds of model cars and other beetle related memorabilia.
Twice a year O’neill’s plays host to the participants of the national Beetle Run when a huge group of Beetle enthusiasts descend on Camp as the midway point on a trip around Ireland.
The event has been an annual fixture at O’neill’s since the bars early days and has proved a welcome yearly boost for the entire Camp community.
A sense of community drives Michael O’neill. He is intensely proud of his locale and puts tremendous effort into advancing the interests of the Camp community.
While all those Volkswagon Beetles no doubt boosted the bar’s profile it was the talents of the O’neill family’s famous singing dog made the pub a national phenomenon.
O’neills has hosted traditional music sessions every Sunday evening since the bar opened in the early 1980s. It was during these sessions that the family dog, Bobby who has since gone to her eternal rest, discovered a talent for song.
Bobby the dog began to sing along with the musicians and it wasn’t long before the terriers vocal talents were attracting the attention of the media.
When another singing dog was found, this one owned by the then owner of Ballybunion’s Exchange Bar owner Chris Hilliard, the O’neill’s decided to host a sing off and the Camp bar played host to what must rank as one of the world’s more unusual song contests The Madravision which was broadcast by TG4.
“That was in 2000. It was great craic. We toured the country with her I was in Dáil Éireann with her. We were in the Mansion House as well to launch the culchie festival. She gone to the great kennel in the sky but she’s not forgotten,” said Mick.
Times have changed a lot since Mick O’neill first opened the doors of The Railway Tavern. Drink driving laws, the smoking ban and other issue have made the life of the rural publican much more difficult but Michael remains philosophical and optimistic about the future.
After all as he says himself recessions come and recessions go and things are bound to improve.
“The pub has been here through two World Wars and a few recessions. Things will get better and we’re not going anywhere.”