Galway man turns old caravan into pub of dreams!

Shebeen when translated means ‘a drinking place’ and comes from the Gaelic word síbín, which was a small mug measure of ale in Ireland in the 18th century.

The word conjures up images of dark secret bars where alcohol was sold to thwart attempts by the English to regulate and tax it, much to the disdain of the unruly Irish.

While you may have had to travel down many boreens to the wildest locations to get to the Irish version of a speakeasy, that looks all set to change thanks to an enterprising Clarenbridge man.

John Walsh came up with the idea of converting a dilapidated 30-year-old caravan into a mobile Irish pub.

But not just any watering hole, this pub is the real deal, just as cosy as any authentic snug which graces your favourite traditional pub.

When entering on a freezing cold November’s day, the Shebeen is so warm; the heating comes from a simple electric fire. It’s a welcome respite from the world outside, a world created by John thanks to a festival competition.

He paid €800 for the caravan to go to the Electric Picnic two years ago. It did the job nicely but when it came to trying to sell it on, he found he was being offered a fraction of what he had paid for it as one of the panels was falling off.

The following year the Electric Picnic was running a competition – to design a caravan which would become an installation in the festival trailer park. It had to be interactive and cut a dash among the organisers’ own unique creations which are used to host gigs and events.

“I thought this is the chance to do something with the caravan lying in the yard. I wanted to create an old style pub. There were 130 entries and five were chosen. Mine wasn’t one of those but we stayed going with it anyway as a project on Friday afternoons to unwind after the week.”

John is a cabinet maker by trade and had built custom-made kitchens with JW Design and for the last three years cleanroom furniture for pharmaceutical companies through his company Clinical Cabinets. He got his five employees involved in the project, which took six months to complete.

The interior woodwork is handcrafted in Irish oak, which has been stained and distressed to recreate a vintage feel.

There is used solid pine on the floor and the seats are designed to look old and well worn. Antique pictures, mirrors and carefully selected pub memorabilia which came from an old pub in Monaghan adorn the walls, which have been papered in traditional patterned wallpaper.

As well as an antique cash register and electric stove, gracing one wall is an old hurl with a set of false teeth imbedded in it. Outside the white polystyrene cladding resembles a white washed cottage, with the door the only thing remaining of the original caravan, which can open out to replicate the traditional cottage half-doors.

His interior designer Claire Finnegan picked out the furnishings “to give it the woman’s touch”. But there’s nothing womanly about this bar.

Behind the bar are two taps for draught beer or Guinness, which he can supply the kegs

The following is a vivid description of what The Shebeen aims to recreate: “The authentic Irish pub experience is not easy to define – it’s magical and warm, a cosy haven on a cold winter’s eve. It’s sipping on a pint beside an open fire, deep in conversation with people you like. It’s forgetting the world and escaping to a place where nothing other than the drink in front of you and the people around your table matter. It’s banter and laughs and fun and tears.”

The shebeen seats 14 and both windows fold down allowing drinks to be served through each window, giving extra counter space outside.

No licence is required provided drink is not charged for.

There is a complete music system inside allowing revelers to play CDs or connect iPads or iPhones.

It needs a power supply to run fridges, coolers, lights and sound system.

He tried the Shebeen out for a family birthday and it was a huge success.

The children were enthralled, adults behaved like kids as they pulled their own pints and by the end of the night it was the older men who had moved in to play cards to get a bit of piece and quiet from the young ones dancing to music outside.

Just two weeks ago, he launched the Shebeen on Facebook and already the bookings have flown in for the afters of weddings and parties. It can be rented for 24 hours from €750 for private events, more for corporate gigs.

Word of the Shebeen has already made its way to Boston where an order for a second Shebeen has been made. He is currently designing one which will be transported to America by St Patrick’s Day.

He plans to build up to eight next year, most of them bound for the US and Canadian markets where he will rent them out under a licence. He has taken out a trademark for the concept and is confident nobody will be allowed copy it.

“For the next one we’re building it from a new frame and chassis so there’ll be more storage and you can bring it anywhere as it will be very strong. We’re thatching it to make it look more realistic. The only thing that will give it away are the wheels.”

Not everyone will be thrilled to see this venture a success. His father Sean, who runs Walsh Crane Hire, has become a most loyal local.

“On a Sunday he likes to come down here with his friends for a few pints. It’s like a home away from home.”