Come Here To Me!

(A very special guest pub crawl report from our close friend, Lucan native and veteran pub crawler Hamada)

It was a grey and overcast day that heralded our April pub crawl. (Our 20th! – JayCarax)

Hopping on the 67 bus route we made our way out of the bustling city and into the sleepy village of Lucan.  It is a charming sort of ‘hamlet’ with pubs, shops, a bank or two and cottages circling a small park/ courtyard with the Griffeen River passing through it (Yes, it’s prone to flooding!).

Our first stop was Kenny’s Pub, one of Lucan’s most popular drinking establishments.

Kenny’s of Lucan. Picture – George Pacini

Kenny’s seemed to have that ‘come in here for Sunday roast’ kind of feel and indeed the place was filled. The sounds of bustling children and the cacophony of pub talk filled the air. The smoking area was nice enough with plenty of seating; the day was too cold to be really comfortable though. The Guinness, although sloppily pulled, was never the less a decent pint. A Guinness here will set you back’€4.35.

Pub number two was Courtney’s Bar.

Courtneys, Lucan. Picture – yelp.ie

This is one of my favourites in the village. Courtney’s is a spacious pub with quite an impressive thatched roof and an old cottage kind of vibe. The atmosphere was definitely quieter than Kenny’s. Having a large smoking area right by the river is a major plus. The interior is spacious and comfortable and even boasts a rustic fire place for those cold winter nights. The Guinness here is smooth and velvety and again costs €4.35.

The Ball Alley was our next stop.

The Ball Alley, Lucan. Picture – Google Maps

A friendly and warm atmosphere can always be expected here. The pub although it looks deceptively small from the outside is actually quite spacious on the inside. In fact at times it can seem like a maze to the alcoholically boggled mind! If you’re lucky enough to arrive at a hushed time, you can grab a lovely little alcove. One of them boasts a collection of equine paintings if you’re so inclined! The smoking area while big enough unfortunately doesn’t provide any seating. None the less, the Ball Alley is a great spot for those Sunday afternoon pints. A Guinness here will cost you €4.20.

After excursion out to Lucan where we sampled its best pubs, we jumped on a bus to Park Gate Street to conclude our crawl.

Our fourth pub of the afternoon was Nancy Hands on Park Gate Street.

Nancy, Park Gate Street. Picture – infomatique

A massive pub, boasting walls of old stone and dark wood. Prepare for high ceilings, rustic fire places and that feel you only expect at an old library. The bar staff were extremely welcoming and friendly. Nancy Hands features a heated smoking area ideal for those cold nights. The Guinness was earthy and glossy and will part you from €4.20.

Pub number five was Ryan’s of Park Gate Street.

Ryans, Park Gate Street. Picture – Le Monde1.

This pub was jammed. Ryan’s was very typically a pub with bar stools, round tables and TVs displaying an assortment of sports. At this stage you’re faithful guide was thoroughly under the influence of the black stuff and so unfortunately, memories of the pub are not as reliable as one would like.

That concludes Hammy’s pub crawl expedition.