WE'LL BE BRACK TO THIS CORNER IN THE FUTURE!
The barmaid was efficient and extremely mannerly
BRACKENS CORNER HOUSE, RATHANGAN, CO KILDARE
AS we made our way into the village of Rathangan, the Young Commando couldn't hide his excitement as he informed us all that this was the hometown of Brian Dowling. "Hurling or football," snarled the Old Commando. By the time the Young Commando had explained to him that Brian Dowling had won Big Brother back in 2001, the Old Commando had lost interest. He took to explaining that Rathangan was very famous long before the Big Brother days.
"Did none of you ever hear of Maura Laverty?" he asked, sticking out his chest. "Now she was what I would call talent. She was a noted author and wrote episodes of Tolka Row for RTE." He was rather upset when he learned that none of us had ever heard of her.Then he informed us that Rathangan was one of the main villages to house workers from Bord na Mona, when it first started developing bogs back in the 1930s. Or was it the '40s? He wasn't sure.
We parked our pubmobile near the local butcher shop and there, right in front of us, was a pub called Bracken's Corner House. "That will do me," said the Old Commando. We entered a very spacious area and the first observation was that the door opened 'out'.
There was bench seating either side of the bar and plenty of floor space opposite the counter, which is to your right as you enter.
To the delight of the Old Commando the pool table, jukebox and gaming machines were located further into the premises, But the two dart boards are just inside the front door, which we thought unusual and not a great location.There are also two flat-screen TVs in the pub and a TV monitor that allows you watch the people passing by.
We made base at the end of the counter and ordered our round of drinks. We noticed the bar was well stocked with a mighty bank of coolers, all full. We were all impressed by the very friendly barmaid who was very efficient, mannerly and served us without delay.We noticed how she was in constant banter with the locals but nobody was left waiting for a drink. The Old Commando remarked fondly on the barmaid that "manners cost nothing and she had plenty of them".
We also had no complaints about the pint of plain at just €3.50! There was an all-male clientele during our visit but there was a good mixture of age.The timber floors, while clean, have seen better days.A touch of lacquer would not go astray or perhaps go one step further and replace them completely. The walls in the main bar area are covered in old sporting photographs, mostly of Celtic FC, while there are also some photos of dart players. There is also a framed Sunderland FC jersey behind the bar. There are also pictures of Republican prisoners, including the late Bobby Sands. The atmosphere was quite good although the locals did not engage in conversation, which is most unusual for a village pub in the middle of the bog.
At first glance the toilets impressed us as they were very clean.The red and white floor and wall tiles were very attractive.There are four urinals and a cubicle.There was no toilet seat on the bowl.There was no soap but the dryer worked.
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THE TURN INN, DERRINTURN
WE came across this pub while driving the Naas to Edenderry road.We were pleased with the layout of the premises, with the counter straight in front of you as you enter and the entertainment area to the right-hand side. In this area there is a pool table, a
jukebox, gaming machines and a TV and all of them are far enough away so as not to interfere with customers at the bar.There is also a ring toss game, which the Old Commando was very happy about.
There is plenty of seating available and the walls are lined with framed Kildare and Premiership soccer jerseys.The young barmaid serving us was friendly but also very busy.
The toilets were clean and the tiled walls were spotless.There was soap and an electric hand-dryer.We did notice there was no lock on the cubicle door.
The atmosphere was very good here with great banter between the punters. It is obvious that this pub is professionally run
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A PUBLICAN in Waterford city is hoping to beat the recession by cutting the price of drink for customers. Billy Ryan, who has two pubs in the city, is offering all drinks for €3 and says this has definitely improved business. Since he introduced the new pricing in his premises, Ryan's Bar on Barrack Street and The Exchange in Ballybricken, he says the weekends have been the best he's had for six months, not including Christmas.
