This article is totally and inadequately researched. We have been in two pubs in Tullamore the Townhouse and one more across the road, Spollens. This article will be updated as time passes. So why the feck am I writing this? I wonder myself. I am talking about the old-style pubs, the ones that are copied around the world. Trust me, I mean everywhere. I have drunk in an Irish pub in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
So across the road from the Garúa bus stop is one of these pubs, step into the bar for a little trip back in time. Go to the bar, find a seat, order a Guinness, and, wait. Within 30 seconds you will probably be asked the first standard question. “Where are you from?” When you tell them the town or city the next question will be inevitably “Do you know Séanie Ryan, he moved there in ‘84”. After that the conversation could cover anything from quantum mechanics, Jung versus Freud or the weather.
So if you have time, step in, take the weight off, order a tea or a pint and see what happens. Every pub is an adventure, ask a question, open a conversation, and the craic will flow in time. This, of course, can lead to a dangerous medical condition we will cover in the Health & Safety section.
As we visit Tullamore in the coming months to prepare for Garúa, we will try a few more places so you can have many choices to savour the authentic Irish pub.
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Posted by Rita. Updated 17 November 2021.
