We were out for a stroll on our first Westport night and we saw this pub on our way back to the hotel. They had a deal on Guinness which I suppose is a sign of the times, with likely tougher times to come.
It was a cool damp night with a 7pm sunset. The pub was warm and had a good few folks in enjoying the conviviality that good pubs generate.
The young girl behind the long, old, wooden bar served us up Guinness and a crisp, chilled rosé wine. We settled down chatted and listened to the music, mostly country with a fair dollop of Irish country singers and songs that doesn't do much for us.
Then to our delightful surprise the sound of Jimmy Buffett's island escapism chords came through the speakers. Jimmy is a Christmas Day baby, was a great friend of Jim Croce and a billionaire. Go Jimmy.
So compliments of It's 5 0' Clock Somewhere my mind was transported to Margaritaville in the Cayman Islands - the last place we enjoyed Jimmy's drunken Carribean Rock n Roll. Our spirits lifted.
We sang and sank further into our seats. Who'da thought JB as he never really caught over this side of the pond.
As we sang and scanned the bar we spied Loch Measc local gin at 43 proof (reviewed separately) so we had a few. Just delicious and really local, hand made, small batch distilled deliciousness. Who needs posh mixers with this quality. We later found it did tours and joyfully ended up there later that week.
We realised that hours had passed and as all good things do come to an end we headed back to our hotel while we still could - not a bad first night after all. read more