It was established in 1835 and is set in an idyllic spot in Monkstown. There is parking to the front along the side of the road. There is a playground for children situated opposite. I was there last night as there was a karaoke competition being held. It’s an impressive building from the outside. As you walk in there is seating on the right. If you take a left the bar is in front of you and has three sides. If you walk right there is seating here and left again. On the opposite side of the bar there is more seating along with an area up the back where some people were sitting. It was extremely busy for a Sunday night as people celebrated another superb rugby win. I ordered a Murphys and a white wine, 7 euro 40. I was delighted to see my drinks being served in their proper pint glasses all night. The pints were very good as was the wine. It is a very nicely decorated pub and business was booming last night. Myself and Jen sat at a table across from the bar.
The above picture is of a building across from the pub that i thought was interesting. The toilets are located out doors on the left hand side. To be honest about it, they were in an awful state and needed a thorough clean. It was a great night overall and not too late even though last call was slightly extended! The karaoke was fun and i ended up winning and got a substantial cash prize. It is very much a locals venue and a very mixed crowd were drinking in there including two extremely tall lads. They have a restaurant and it is supposed to be very good. It just off the main Monkstown road but is worth a glance.
Toilet rating: 3/10
Pint rating: 7 and a half/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Overall rating: The Monkstown Inn is a popular bar and it’s nearest rival is a quarter of a mile away.
Myself and my brother went up there to put it to the test today. it can be found at Ballycureen on the main airport road. He had been there before and said that he found it to be a very decent pub. It has a very interesting name. Anybody familiar with John B. Keane will remember the charcter in his play ‘The Field’. The pub is named after him. We arrived there at about half four. There is parking available at the side of the pub. There are two entrances and we used the one near the car park. You walk down a few steps and go inside. As you walk in you will notice a food counter on your right. There are some fine seating areas on the left. As you walk down further the bar is on the right and again there is seating on the left. There was a few lads sitting at the bar and at the curve at the end. If you walk down further there are seats and tables on the left and straight ahead lies another area to sit. We ordered a Murphy’s and a pint bottle of Bulmers. The first two girls we ordered the drinks off couldn’t really understand what we were saying so another lady took our order. In fairness to her she was quite witty and chatty. I noticed some interesting memorabilia as i looked up. There is a balcony above with some nice stuff. The pint of Murphy’s was actually very good and it went down well. My brother had no complaints about the cider eithier.
The toilets are located across from where we were sitting and were very clean and well maintained. A good point was made that you can’t judge pubs at all different times and come up with fair reviews for all of them. No pub is likely to be full at 4:30 in the day. They do carvery lunches and even though i didn’t have any food i have heard that it is very good. I would like to come back at night sometime and see what is on offer. From talking to people you will catch live music in there sometimes. A good pub overall that appeared very geared towards its food trade. I would imagine that a lot of custom comes from passing motorists.
Toilet rating: 8/10
Pint rating: 7 and a half/10
Overall rating: 7 and a half/10
Final comment: Bull McCabes also has meeting rooms on offer and i would think that lunch time is very busy inside. You might need to take the car but it is a nice spot.
Trabolgan holiday village is located in east Cork. It has been a popular holiday destination for Irish people for many years. It has been majorly redevoloped in the past few years. The main attraction remains the same. The sub tropical swimming pool and slide were great but in my opinion are very out dated. A whole new swimming complex should be constructed and it should have 4 or 5 water slides. It’s expensive to visit and stay there but you can have a great time. They have two pubs. Jim Gallaghers and The Cove. Jim Gallaghers is the adults only venue after 9pm. It is located next to the arcade. As you walk in there is seating on the right and the bar runs along down to the left. As you walk down there is more seating to the right and straight ahead. The pints of Murphy’s aren’t bad at all. They often have live music and quizzes. It a place that parents can go for a drink witout the company of their little ones. I watched a match in there and it was grand and comfortable.
The Cove is across the ‘town center’ and is more of a family affair with live entertainment and kids running and screaming around! It is host to many fun events such as bingo and talent shows. It is situated next to the local chipper which is very handy. As you walk in the bar is over to the left and there is seating to the right. If you walk down past the bar there is a loads of of seating and tables around. I find the cove more like a big hall with tables. The pints of stout are very bad in here. I had one and changed to Smithwicks which was a little better.
The toilets are located out between the cove and the chipper. In fairness they have staff keeping a close eye on them so the are normally in fairly good condition. I stayed there for a few nights before and it was good fun. They have new adventure sports over near their sports hall. I think children and teenagers can do quad biking now. I know they have archery and abseiling and canoeing. There’s a golf course there and you can also play crazy golf. If you have never been it is a worthwhile trip.
Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: Combined (5/10)
Overall rating: 7/10
Final comment: Trabolgan is open until November and a weekend in the high season for 2/3 people can cost up to 560 euro. If you go in September you can get the same thing for 225 euro. They have houses that accomodate up to 9 people. You have to be a resident to drink in there as far as i’m aware.
I went in there for lunch before and found it to be a very interesting pub. All around the bar there is lots of ‘monk’ memorabilia scattered. We went in on a weekday afternoon and it was quiet. As you walk in there is seating to the left and the bar is ahead. We sat over to the right and surveyed the menu. Towards the back there is also a long narrow area and the toilets are down here. I ordered chicken curry and the others had a variety of dishes. I didn’t have a pint but i had a glass of coke and it was delicious! From my time in there it appeared to be a very interesting pub. I was informed that there is a bistro style restaurant up stairs. Even though it was quiet on our visit i would hazard a guess that it can get very busy inside. It’s not on the ‘Kinsale good food circle of restaurants’ so it is likely to be cheaper. Lunch was very enjoyable and i would bring my custom there again.
The toilets as stated are down at the back and were perfectly clean and inhabitable. It has the kind of name that attracts you to go inside. Kinsale has an abundance of excellent pubs and restaurants and this is one worth visiting.
Toilet rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 7 and a half/10
Final comment: We were in the Mad Monk at lunch time but i would think it’d be nice for a drink in the evening.
It is situated next to Plato Murphys pub which has been reviewed. Cubins is one the the better clubs to visit in my opinion. Of course you can expect to meet bouncers at the entrance. They tend not to leave big groups of lads in together so it’s better to split up when waiting to go in. They take your hard earned money as you walk in and then you take a right. Straight ahead is a big dance floor and the bar is off to the left. I remember the drinks were very expensive on our last visit. There are seats around the dance floor in a square. This is another club that appears to do very well. I cannot comment on their stout because i haven’t had any. While we were dancing on that night there was an awful smell wafting around. The music tends to be mixed in Cubins. They play the usual dance and chart music but they also play some older stuff as well.
The toilets are located as you come in the main entrance to the left. Whenever i have had to use them, they have been in terrible condition. They are quite small for a night clubs toilets. Cubins also extends upstairs where there is another dance floor and bar on the left as you go in. This is a much smaller part and i have found there to be more interesting music up here. Overall it’s a big complex and a very popular Cork nightclub.
Toilet rating: 2/10
Pint rating: Don’t know
Overall rating: 7/10
Final comment: I can’t understand how clubs charge so much to get in when they make so much on the bar and cloakroom. Cubins isn’t bad and may be worth a visit.
I’m not a fan of nightclubs to be honest. Most of the time i just don’t enjoy the music most play. However i have been to a good selection of Cork’s nightclubs and they all serve alcohol so they constitute pubs in a sense. Fast Eddies is a club above two of the fore mentioned pubs The Quad and Bar Rumba. I have been here several times and depending on the night you go in your experience can vary. Often bouncers on the doors of nightclubs are stricter than those of pubs. This makes sense because people are usually more intoxicated and more likely to cause trouble by the time they reach the club. The Fast Eddies bouncers are normally ok and once past them you pay after climbing a few steps. Climb another few and you have reached your destination. The cloak room is inside the door. If you walk down the bar is on the right and the dance floor on the left. Keep walking and turn to the right and there is some seating here. The dj is usually located up high and cannot be contacted with requests (not that they would play them anyway). I suppose it makes sense not to drink stout in a club because it always ends in disaster. The price of drink escalates in all clubs and this is widely accepted. The best idea is to drink something like vodka and coke as this is pretty universal. I normally just have 7up or water and concentrate on getting some jumping around excerise!
The toilets are located by the back section and you can’t expect much from night club toilets. Avoid using them if at all possible is some good advice. The owners cannot be blamed for the state of toilets as very drunken people are not at all careful or worried about where they go! The dance floor in Fast Eddies is relatively small but is fine. This club being very central does well and used to have themes nights that were good. They may still have them but i haven’t been in, in a while.
Toilet rating: 2/10
Pint rating: Avoid, Vodka and Coke: 8/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Final comment: A lot of people love clubbing and i respect that. I prefer a good late night bar with some live music and some decent stout! Fast Eddies is on Tuckey street near South Main street so now you know.
The Bodega is a late night bar on the Coal Quay in Cork city. I have previously reviewed the white rooms which is part of the same venue. We were out over the weekend and decided to bring our custom here for late night drinks. They had two bouncers on the door but we had no hassle from them. It had been a while since i was in the Mardyke and i was very impressed by how lively and modern it is. As you walk in the bar is straight ahead. They have a vast number of seating areas and can accomodate a large crowd of people. I found it quite dark inside but the place was buzzing. The music wasn’t too loud and you could chat without having to shout. We also went up stairs for a while and checked it out. While standing at the upstairs bar you cannot help but notice the huge mirror. The Mardyke has a very elevated ceiling and it wasn’t at all stuffy even though it was packed. I didn’t have a pint but the other lads did and they had no complaints about the quality of the Murphy’s which was suprising. It is certainly one of THE places to be seen in the city.
The toilets that i vacated are located behind the downstairs bar. In fairness they were very busy but appeared clean. I was slightly apprehensive going to the Bodega after a long absence. Will i pay a return visit? Yes is my answer to that. Some of my friends have eaten in there and they have given rave reviews about the quality of the food. If you are looking for a cool, modern late night bar, then this is your place.
Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Final Comment: The Bodega or the White Rooms are some where to consider for a late night drink. Check it out.
The Country Club hotel is where you will find Pennants Bar. It is situated up towards Montenotte on the city’s northside. The bar is located just off the main reception of the hotel. There is loads of parking space available at the front of the hotel. As you walk into the pub the bar is on the left and there are many comfortable seating areas. The time i was there people was watching Manchester United playing a premiership match. I didn’t actually have a pint but had a glass of 7up and that was grand. It is a relatively small hotel bar but you can enjoy some breath taking panoramic views from the windows. I was also in one of their function rooms and it appeared very run down to be honest.
The toilets that i used were the ones in reception and they were fine. The Country Club used to have a very good reputation and may still have but my thoughts are that it counld do with some serious modernisation. Cork city only a few minutes away can offer much more modern facilities and decor.
Toilet rating: 7/10
Mineral rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Final comment: Didn’t stay in the bar for all that long. It could be a very nice place for a drink. It has the location and the views.
Formally “Taboo” I believe, but of course I didn’t realise that until I had already ordered the pints. Located on a seedy, almost subversive side alley off the brightly lit Patrick Street, lies a pub that at first glance I presumed to be a scanger* hangout. I was quite mistaken. It is, in fact a small yet hugely flamboyant drinking establishment for homosexuals. Perhaps the reason I never actually saw it all these years on my many trips down Patrick Street is that it must not have had such a bright white frontage. I’m willing to bet that orbiting astronaunts can see the front door of this place.
Anyhow, I digress. My pint of rebel red was sub-par when compared to the offerings in the Mutton Lane Inn or Franciscan Well and Eoin’s Murphys was probably the most confusing drink he has ever had. The glass was anyway, I’m sure the actual pint was all he hoped for. My discomfort at being in the bar was only due to the fact that the heater next to my leg was slowly giving me third degree burns. The bar is basically a small room painted in a piercing white colour with simply daaarling illuminated fluffy hearts on the wall.
The crowd was composed of a fairly good mix of ages and the women all seemed to be wearing rather comfortable shoes. I did notice a crowd of about five lads who seemed to be in the same boat as myself and Eoin but I neither nodded nor winked lest I give anyone the wrong impression. We had a brief chat about what our mothers would think of us if they could see us and indeed what our mothers would be doing in a place like this anyway.
Overall a nice pub. If not for the music was obnoxiously loud and had all the appeal of a sunburnt armadillo. Nice pub but I won’t be going back there. It’s not really my scene… if you get my drift.
(*scanger: a young man with a shaved head, ear-rings and a bad attitude toward life and his fellow man. Most commonly found driving brightly coloured ford fiestas and citroen saxos)
The Cork Arms is a pub on Mc Curtain street in Cork city. I was in there a good while back following a musical in the Everman Palace Theater. As you walk in the bar is on the left and there is seating going down on the right. It appeared to be a real old mans pub. As far as i can remember the Murphy’s was alright. I think i can say that it was the kind of pub that you go to once and don’t head back. I found it to be somewhat dirty inside. I was only passing it last night and there was a big crowd of people heading in there after a show. They pick up a lot of their business from the theater. I went to their juke box when we were there for a look at their selection of songs. I noticed that classic Beatles track ‘Hey Jade’! I opted for a Paul Simon song but the song i choose never made an appearence.
The toilets are down a stairs and none of the three of us there ventured to them. The smell that was coming from them was absoloutely discusting and that put all of us off the pub. That’s the Cork Arms.
Toilet rating: Smelly
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
Final comment: As i said it’s been a long time since i was in there but i won’t be going back to rekindle old memories!
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