Kilkenny "Hole in the Wall" pub
Tracks of the StoneBear Copyright MCMLXIII Uncle Hargus ALL Rights reserved
After a refresh at the Fanad House B&B we walked back to town early evening to get some Fish & Chips, and check out some Irish pub night life
We found a local restaurant "Fish Face" and were not disappointed.
**********************
Now, looking for a real Irish pub, the guys at fish Face said we could look for a small interesting pub if we liked conversation instead of drinking and singing. That sounded good.
We walked by and missed the entrance on High Street.
A doorway arch led back to a small- now living room size- open air courtyard, just as unique and quaint with a few patrons sitting and talking. I like the boots and shoes hanging on the wall.
And we step into this little,... smaller than your living room, Irish pub. Quaint. unique. original. This was a real local pub.
The local guy at the end of the small bar finished talking, visiting and left. The guy in the frayed baseball cap welcomed us and we began talking about the many items in the room.
Dr Michael Conway explaining the "standing stone" ... map of Ireland on the wall.
And the next 30+ minutes was a conversation of the artifacts, map of Ireland for regional direction and area, town location, and posted notes around the pub... of Irish history dating back 25,000 years.
This was not a one way lecture. He asked about our USA travels. I described Medicine wheel, Wyoming... one of my favorite historical places of the Blackfeet tribe that migrated down trough Bighorn Canyon to Medicine Wheel, where there were tribal councils, then down onto the plains to hunt buffalo.
Of archaeology, of western civilization migration across the continent; people in a cold climate migrated west... to where the Sun set... in search of a warmer place where the sun was. The man in the baseball cap/ host was very articulate, very personable; erudite is the word to describe. A gracious host. We felt at home in this small pub just as if we'd been invited to his home den to break bread now ready for a fireside chat.
ROF= Ring of Fire Odyssey
MEF-H = Marine Expeditionary Force- Hargus
Eire= Ireland journey
May 2, 2019
After a refresh at the Fanad House B&B we walked back to town early evening to get some Fish & Chips, and check out some Irish pub night life
We found a local restaurant "Fish Face" and were not disappointed.
**********************
Now, looking for a real Irish pub, the guys at fish Face said we could look for a small interesting pub if we liked conversation instead of drinking and singing. That sounded good.
The sign.
Down the hallway... literally The hole in the Wall.
Now we get to the real story, The rest of the story as Paul Harvey would say.
Hole in the Wall is so tiny we walked right past the sign and went down to here. That's not the place.
Went back 2 blocks and found it.
And we step into this little,... smaller than your living room, Irish pub. Quaint. unique. original. This was a real local pub.
When Back home googled and found out this was Dr Michael Conway, an Oxford University studied Cardiologist that had retired and restored "The Hole in the Wall" Pub.
I speak of Michael on a first name basis as he was that personable. I felt at home in his living room. By chance I stumbled into one of the best pubs in Ireland and got a history talk in 30+ minutes that was better than a semester in college.
Back inside the pub the bartender asked what we' like to have. T-bird, a small mixed drink, maybe Irish coffee. Me, a heavy lager.
This was not a one way lecture. He asked about our USA travels. I described Medicine wheel, Wyoming... one of my favorite historical places of the Blackfeet tribe that migrated down trough Bighorn Canyon to Medicine Wheel, where there were tribal councils, then down onto the plains to hunt buffalo.
When Back home googled and found out this was Dr Michael Conway, an Oxford University studied Cardiologist that had retired and restored "The Hole in the Wall" Pub.
I speak of Michael on a first name basis as he was that personable. I felt at home in his living room. By chance I stumbled into one of the best pubs in Ireland and got a history talk in 30+ minutes that was better than a semester in college.
Thank you Michael, Dr Conway, you were a gracious host and a short stop in your pub was a real Irish treat. I speak on a first name basis as I consider you a friend for life even though we will never cross paths again.
And the next 30+ minutes was a conversation of the artifacts, map of Ireland for regional direction and area, town location, and posted notes around the pub... of Irish history dating back 25,000 years.
A couple came in and they were from Boston. The guy was a musician that had been in the warm up band and had toured through Ireland years ago. Michael handed him an acoustic guitar and he began strumming and doing chinks that were very talented. It was a neat time to sit, talk, and listen to some live music in this pub.
I don't remember his name; he was very talented with a guitar. Some other people came in and it was really crowded... it's only a 10 seat pub at most. So we uped and gave seats to newcomers to share this really unique pub. 17 High Street, Kilkenny, Ireland.
I walked away thinking this was the great unplanned chance/ thing/ event of life to savor. Thank you! Thank you Michael. This was a good day!
Walked 3/4 mile back to Fanad House... and crashed... thinking. dreaming what a wonderful 1st day in Ireland!
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
StoneBearTracks Copyright Uncle Hargus MCMLXIII ALL blog posts/photographs/video ALL Rights reserved ALL Blog posts/photographs/video Copyright MCMLXIII ALL Rights Reserved
