We didn’t have to venture too far to find the next pub. The Flying Enterprise Lounge is next door to Fordes. I have wanted to go to this pub for a while after hearing Billa advertising it so well on 96fm!! It is an extremly modern pub that has quite a few striking features. It was quiet when we headed in so we had the pick of where we wanted to sit. I ordered a glass of 7up and a red wine for Jen. The bar-man gave us a whole list of wines to choose and Jen chose the one that he didn’t happen to mention! It is a bright and airy pub with a high ceiling, two fish tanks and very striking glass windows to the front of the pub. We got several greetings from strangers which was a nice touch. I know that bar food is served and also this building is host to the ‘Captains Table’ restaurant. This is a very popular restaurant that i hope to check out.
The toilets are extremely modern even if the urinals are quite high! This is the only fault i could find (if you can even call this a fault). There are two cubicles that were spotless and the taps come on automatically which is great. The lights are nice in here too. I enjoyed my visit.
Toilet rating: 9/10
Overall rating: 7.5/10
Final comment: This pub is very much like being on a cruise liner. It has a famous name i found an article from RTE radio 1 with a bit of history of the pubs name.
TOM MACSWEENEY’S MARITIME MONITOR
THE STORY OF THE FLYING ENTERPRISE
It was my grandfather who first introduced me to ships and, through radio news reporting, to the tough life which can be experienced at sea. It was Christmastime 1951, going into the New Year of 1952 and my earliest radio memory is hearing the story that came across the airwaves every night of the gallant battle to save a sinking ship. The FLYING ENTERPRISE, a 396-foot long cargo ship – 6,711 gross tonnage, sailed from Hamburg on December 21, 1951 – bound for New York, but after Christmas Day, the weather worsened and 500 miles west of the Fastnet Rock, she was in what were described as “hurricane conditions.” A 30-foot wave cracked the hull, put the ship on her beam ends and knocked out the engines. Ships responded to her SOS and on December 29, 40 crew and 10 passengers jumped to safety and were picked up by the SS Southland and the US ship, General A.W.Greely. There was no helicopter rescue in those days. One man died of exposure. As the FLYING ENTERPRISE heeled 60 degrees to port, Captain Heinrik Kurt Carlsen stayed aboard and the British tug, TURMOIL, which used to be stationed in Cobh, arrived to help. Its Mate, Kenneth Dancy, got aboard the FLYING ENTERPRISE to join Captain Carlsen. So began one of the most amazing true-life stories of a 15-day battle to save the sinking ship, as reported on RTE RADIO by John Ross.
Its been a while since the last review so i thought i’d better get out and check out some new pubs! We decided to head to the city and into Fordes bar at 2 Barrack Street. I know that there is a funeral home across the road from the pub going by the same name, but i never took much notice of this pub when i passed here before. My first thoughts of the place as i walked in were a country pub with the convenience of a very central location in the city. There are two entrances into Fordes. We walked right through the bar which is quite big and found a nice cosy seat in an alcove near the welcoming fire. I noticed that they have a rings board which could provide a lot of entertainment. There wasn’t a huge crowd having drinks but there was enough there to keep the bar staff going. I was served by a very pleasant lady with a Scottish accent and got a Murphy’s and a glass of red wine. She called me when the pint had perfectly settled. Manchester United were playing and i watched it on their plasma screen near the toilets. The pint was one of the nicest i have had in a long while and i really enjoyed it.
I checked out the gents toilet and it is small but was very well maintained with one cubicle available. I must say that this is the kind of pub that i like visiting and found it very refreshing to sit in a pub like this in the city. I’d say there are many regulars here as i noticed on my visit. I must say that i would or most probably will head back to Fordes again. It is a good pub serving a good pint.
Toilet rating: 7.5/10
Pint rating: 8.5/10
Overall rating: 8.5/10
Final comment: I doubt that Fordes is the liveliest of pubs but for a nice comfortable spot for a pint, this has to be considered.
Enjoy it from us at Munster Pubs!
Good luck to RYAN and www.rymus.net at the blog awards in Dublin tonight. The site is nominated in two catagories. Unfortunately i cannot make it but will be eager to find out what happens.
1: Corks oldest pub is the gateway as far as we know. There has been some debate about this in pieces that i have read and i am open to correction. 1698 was the year of establishment.
2: The biggest pub in Cork City we have visited would be Reardens.
3: The smallest pub in the city that we have visited is Pat Buckleys bar on Mulgrave Road (Highly recommended).
4: My favourite pub visited out of all so far was Dan Lowrey’s on Mc Curtain street. Saying this i haven’t gone back since it was reviewed.
5: Based in Cork most of our reviews are pubs from the city and county.
6: My favourite pub outside of Cork is The Waterville Inn in Co Kerry.
7: We run the site as a hobby and are not paid by anyone.
8: Murphy’s is our drink of choice when in Cork, Guinness otherwise.
9: We have been reviewing pubs for a year and a half.
10: 327 pubs in Munster, outside Munster and outside Ireland have been reviewed.
At this stage of the night i was in quite a drunken state so my recollection of O’ Hallorans is not 100%! This bar was very busy when we headed in for a drink. To stick with tradition a pint of Guinness and a glass of Budweiser were ordered. There was cd music playing and there was a good selection. There was a good mixture of people in this pub and there were even a few dancing! The pint was grand but i could only manage half because i had, had enough at this stage. The pub is big and because there was so many people here it is hard to describe it. On the outside of the pub it states that O’ Hallorans is a music bar.
The toilet wasn’t in great condition but it was ok. We both enjoyed our short stop off at this pub and it is a place i would like to head back to again if in the area.
Toilet rating: 6/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Final comment: O’ Hallorans is a lively pub well worth a visit.
Bar 26 is another pub on our quest to conquer Ennis’ many public houses. We encountered bouncers at the door of this pub. There is a long narrow area inside the door of the pub. The area up near the bar was busy but the area at the front was quiet. I ordered our drinks, a Guinness and a Bud and we took a seat. There was a dj playing music and he for no apparent reason would turn up the music to unbearable levels and then down again! The pint of Guinness was only alright, not great. The pub itself is fine. It is most certainly a young persons place. There was a stag party there while we were inside and the groom was tied up and fell backwards and hit his head off the wall. A member of the party asked Jen for her lipstick and gave her a tenner for a nearly used stick! The groom to be was then given an Irish lads makeover!
The toilets were not to be used. Their condition was terrible. The floor was partly flooded and the tap didn’t work. Not what i would consider even useable. Bar 26 would not be a place i will consider heading back to if i am ever in Ennis again. Saying that it attracted a good crowd of people.
Toilet rating:4/10
Pint rating: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
Final comment: Bar 26 is another of the vast number of bars in the town.
The Front Bar is next door to Cruises pub in the town. This was much quieter than the previous pub. We took a seat at the bar and were served by a very pleasant bar lady. This pub is long and there are plenty seating areas. Again we ordered a pint of Guinness and a glass of Budweiser. It was quiet for a Friday night in what appeared to be a decent pub. There is nothing striking about the place, it is just a comfortable to enjoy a drink.
I had to ask the staff where the toilets were and found them with a bit of direction. The gents was in very good condition so no complaints there. Even though it is a nice pub it is not somewhere that would stick in your mind.
Toilet rating: 8/10
Pint rating: 7/10
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Final comment: The Front Bar enjoys a prominent location.
Directly across the road to Cruises is where we went next. Most certainly the busiest pub we visited on the trip to Ennis. It is also a restaurant. There was a one man band playing and to be fair to him he was excellent. He was the main reason that this pub was so busy. There was standing room only and the queue was three deep at the bar. A Guinness and a glasss of Bud was ordered and enjoyed immensely. There was a mixture of all ages in Cruises. Because it was so busy it was hard to get a good look at the pub but it is a fairly good size. I took a walk around to see the place and it is certainly the kind of pub that i like visiting.
The toilets are up the back of the pub and were ok on checking them. We spent all our time in this pub listening to the man playing guitar and singing. Cruises is a pub i would head back to again. Jen said there is a nightclub upstairs. Lively and popular.
Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Final comment: Cruises is a bar that is worth visiting in Ennis.
Next up we walked the short distance to Kings Bar and Restaurant. This is a big sized venue. We were greeted by bouncers. One kindly opened the door for us. There was a dj on the right as we headed in. It was busy inside in that all the seats were taken but there was still a lot of room. We walked around towards the back of the pub and eventually perched ourselves at the bar. Another pint of Guinness and glass of Budweiser was ordered. The Guinness was not as good as the previous pubs but was ok. This pub is ultra modern and comfortable. I think it may be a late venue but i am not 100% sure. We could barely hear the dj where we were in the pub.
The toilets were up near the door where we had come in. I used a individual cubicle and it was fine except when i was coming out another guy was trying to push the door in. He apologised when he found out i was using the toilet! A big pub but one i wouldn’t be rushing back to. It is too spaced out and maybe lacks atmosphere. By all means have a drink or some food there yourself.
Toilet rating: 7/10
Pint rating: 6.5/10
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Final comment: Kings is a well run pub from what i saw. Not a bad stop off.
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