394) The Halfway House of Walkinstown Road, Walkinstown, D12

Not to be confused with The Halfway House of Ashtown, D.7. As we approached across the road from afar we spotted a magnificent specimen of the Captain Shotover type, occupying the entrance and puffing upon a militant fag, who most courteously and graciously made way for us as we entered. This augured well, and within was a den of civility with a fine open fire illumining a handsome interior, bedecked with nice chandeliers and a veritable Trinity of lamplights. The clientele were very friendly (including a man with a dog) and given to mild-mannered banter with the newcomers to make them welcome.

No Beamish alas (it’s just not that kinda place), but Guinness vends for €5.30. Upon delivering the round, the barman said ‘Eleven sixty’, which made us blanch a bit, but he promptly corrected himself. The interior is very intimate and cosy (the right side of cramped), which belies the arrestingly vast exterior, which seems much larger from without than within. A nice touch was the closure of this pub on June 17th 2021 as a mark of respect for the late Tom O’Malley of The Blue Haven fame. Fun fact - we visited on the day of King Charles III’s birthday, and thus his rubicund and rasher jug-eared face simpered and gurned at us from a television screen as we drank, posturing by a tree with a pompous cane and bedecked in tweeds, posing as a ruddy child of nature.

Would we return? You bet your last piaster! We could have easily sat by the fireside and took several more, however we wanted Beamish and the nearby Eleanora’s and Barnwells Bar could provide us with the elusive potion.

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this blog represent personal opinions and perspectives only. Read more.