This appealing and curious pub had its start as many of the rural pubs in southwestern Ireland did: as a grocery store. Selling food and drink to take home in the front (along with a few seats for pints) and mostly drink in the back, I love a good grocer-pub and Moran's is one of those such places. Don't disappear, please don't!
The pub pulls a fantastic pint of Guinness, likely because the keg is directly under the bar and the beer travels very little distance into your glass. It's really amazing how wonderful and different the Guinness is when it's fresh and poured correctly. The bartender when we visited was very generous with information about the area and entertained us with stories and chit-chat about local events and the economy. These are the moments you remember from a trip somewhere: a quality drink, a quiet bar wrought with history, a friendly local shooting the breeze. Simple connections and simple pleasures in life that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of busy days.
The pub has done quite a bit to make itself marketable to football fans, with a large collection of team scarves and paraphernalia draped over the walls. Unfortunately I was not able to stay long enough to catch the vibe in there during a match.
In short, a lovely stop, and probably the most worthwhile of them, during our stay in Westport. read more