Iconic pub hitting right note for two decades

There is no doubt that one of the city’s best-known trad-music pubs, Tigh Chóilí, would be celebrating its 20th birthday in style next week if it weren’t for Covid-19 restrictions.

There is also little doubt that this summer would have been a bumper season for the popular pub thanks to a royal visit to the city in March that included England’s Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, nipping into the bar to enjoy a session with local musicians.

However, just a fortnight after that visit, which was broadcast all over the world, Ireland shut down due to the coronavirus. Since then, Covid-19 and the resultant restrictions have pretty much put paid to the 2020 tourist season.

Yet, publican, Cóilí O’Flaherty, a Claddagh man, remains philosophical this week as he looks back on two decades in the Mainguard Street pub and what the future holds, for not only Tigh Chóilí but for the whole pub trade.

“It’s been a tough time for everyone. We were closed for four-and-a-half months. That wasn’t easy but about eight weeks ago we re-opened and started serving pizzas (from Napoli’s around the corner in Cross Street).

“We gradually introduced a few sessions; not as many as we used to have but it’s nice to see a bit of normality returning. But we still don’t know what’s ahead of us or if the city will have more restrictions imposed,” he says.

The pandemic certainly came at a bad time for Tigh Chóilí — the royal visit would definitely have brought a higher number of tourists, especially English ones and now the bar’s 20th birthday celebrations will be low-key.

But Cóilí isn’t moaning. Of course, he’s disappointed but they will mark the two decades in some way. As yet, he’s not sure how but it will certainly involve Irish traditional music. After all, that’s what the pub is famous for.

Their regular performers include Frankie Gavin and Matt Keane, with the likes of Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh, Máirtín O’Connor, Mary Shannon, and Johnny O’Halloran also featuring regularly and sessions with Conor Connolly, winner of the 2019 TG4 Young Musician of the Year.

The late singer and fiddle player Dessie O’Halloran was a regular for years and Cóilí cared for him like family.

The thing is, while Cóilí loves music, he doesn’t play. He says he can’t even sing, but his two sons, Aonghus, who is the bar’s managing director, and Ronan are both musicians. Aonghus plays in a wedding band called The Lewd Notes and Ronan used to play fiddle with De Danann. Ronan’s eight-month-old son with his French wife, Lassa, is named Danann after the renowned group.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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