Sean's Bar - Athlone

The Pub Runners Musical Tour of Ireland in November, 2024 stopped at Sean's Bar where the band performed a couple of songs. There's a strong sense of Irish history at Sean's. Here's the story:

Earning the title of The Oldest Pub In Ireland, and perhaps soon The Oldest Pub in the World, Sean's Bar's history is a fascinating tale.

Athlone, marks the site of what was once a great ford across the Shannon known as the Ford of Great Antiquity. At around 900 AD there lived a man called Luain Mac Luighdeach - Luain son of Lewy. It is known that he established an Inn close to "Áth Mor - The Great Ford". This Inn is today known as Sean’s Bar! Luain acted as a guide to travellers who had to venture across the rapid torrent of the Shannon. A settlement grew up around the crossing point and in time the place came to be known by his name “Áth Luain” - the Ford of Luain which later became Athlone. In1129, King Turlough O' Connor built the first wooden castle here to protect this settlement.

Sean’s Bar has a detailed and documented history right back to 900AD. During renovations in 1970, the walls of the bar were found to be made of "wattle and wicker" dating back to the ninth century. Old coins which were minted by various landlords for barter with their customers were also found. The walls and the coins are on display in the National Museum. One section remains on display in the pub.

Sean’s Bar has been researched thoroughly by the Guinness Book of Records and proudly holds the record for "The Oldest Pub in Ireland" with an official dating of 900AD. Research is ongoing into the title of "The Oldest Pub in the World"; so far, nothing older has been found.

Information taken from Sean's Bar website: www.seansbar.ie/seans-bar-history

Click HERE to hear the Sean's Bar story