Two pub-related questions...

Grolschevik

1. Looks like Campion's on the Malahide Rd by the Balgriffin cemetery has closed. Anyone know what the story is?

2. My father-in-law always referred to O'Dwyer's Golf Links Inn in Portmarnock as "The Widow's". He wasn't sure why, and it has always intrigued me. Is it a previous name for the pub, or is it a nickname based on there once being an actual widow as owner?

Jimdagym

Grolschevik wrote: »

1. Looks like Campion's on the Malahide Rd by the Balgriffin cemetery has closed. Anyone know what the story is?

2. My father-in-law always referred to O'Dwyer's Golf Links Inn in Portmarnock as "The Widow's". He wasn't sure why, and it has always intrigued me. Is it a previous name for the pub, or is it a nickname based on there once being an actual widow as owner?

Campions closed a while ago. I'd guess late last year.

Tilly

The widow's.

Grolschevik

Tilly wrote: »

The widow's.

Yeah, I saw that. Not much more there than my father-in-law knew!

rockatansky

Grolschevik wrote: »

2. My father-in-law always referred to O'Dwyer's Golf Links Inn in Portmarnock as "The Widow's". He wasn't sure why, and it has always intrigued me. Is it a previous name for the pub, or is it a nickname based on there once being an actual widow as owner?

I always refer to it as the Widows aswell. Don't know why though as I think it was always called the Golf links.

syklops

rockatansky wrote: »

I always refer to it as the Widows aswell. Don't know why though as I think it was always called the Golf links.

Maybe the "Golf Links" is a bit of a naff name. Even for golf enthusiasts.

Always number 1

Just speculating here but I wonder would it be to do with the whole "Golf widow" thing? Particularly as Portmarnock famously have male only membership..

easygoing39

Its nickname is due to the fact that a widow own's the place.Her husband passed away in the early '70's.

hidinginthebush

easygoing39 wrote: »

Its nickname is due to the fact that a widow own's the place.Her husband passed away in the early '70's.

This is the correct answer. The widow owns the, her two sons run the place mainly. The widow lives above the pub still to the best of my knowledge.

Clive Bisquette

Yes she does and makes the occasional appearance !

The pub and Restaurant could be run much better and have great potential for a go ahead non greedy customer focussed publican.

But we all know that particular species just doesn't exist.!

The Hill Billy

Clive Bisquette wrote: »

...non greedy customer focussed publican.

But we all know that particular species just doesn't exist.!

You're frequenting the wrong pubs then.

Clive Bisquette

The Hill Billy wrote: »

You're frequenting the wrong pubs then.

Well maybe there are some down in the Dingle Peninsula Billy but I would find the 300km drive a tad ...uh..long ?

Wishbone Ash

The Hill Billy wrote: »

You're frequenting the wrong pubs then.

It's not always that simple particularly if you frequent a particular pub to enjoy the company of people who also frequent it.

(I know this sounds a bit strange but I find some 'customer focused' pubs to be a bit contrived and off-putting).

The Hill Billy

There's plenty of pubs in the North County run by decent vintners who value their customers. Don't tar all publicans with the one brush just because you don't drink in any of them.

Clive Bisquette

The Hill Billy wrote: »

There's plenty of pubs in the North County run by decent vintners who value their customers. Don't tar all publicans with the one brush just because you don't drink in any of them.

Throw us out a few names then Bud ..if you can ?

The Hill Billy

In Skerries I'd recommend Nealon's, Ollie's Place/The Snug, The Gladstone, The Bus Bar, & then in Balrothery there's The Balrothery Inn.

Clive Bisquette

The Hill Billy wrote: »

In Skerries I'd recommend Nealon's, Ollie's Place/The Snug, The Gladstone, The Bus Bar, & then in Balrothery there's The Balrothery Inn.

Thanks Billy...but as I don't live anywhere near these establishments I can't drink in them.!

But I will happily take your word for it...I have had the occasional drink in The Blue bar down near the harbour and found it Ok if a bit pricey .

Duck Soup

The Hill Billy wrote: »

In Skerries I'd recommend Nealon's, Ollie's Place/The Snug, The Gladstone, The Bus Bar, & then in Balrothery there's The Balrothery Inn.

Richard in the Bus Bar was always one of nature's gentlemen. Knew the kind of customers he wanted, the kind of atmosphere they liked and pointed the more unruly elements to other pubs in the vicinity. Gently of course.

I see him around the town occasionally, but I'm assuming that he's no longer running the pub. Who's at the helm now? Still one of the Keanes?

The Hill Billy

Richard is still behind the bar - just not as often. He lets the younger folk do the hard work these days.