Like old times as Salthill pub returns to previous owners

It will be just like old times for a Salthill pub when the ‘O’Reilly’s’ name is placed back over the door.

For Anthony O’Reilly has purchased Lohan’s Bar and Restaurant, part of which was built on the site of his family’s former ‘Stroll Inn’ pub off the D’Arcy roundabout.

There were loud cheers in the auction room when auctioneer Colm O’Donnellan brought down the gavel on Lohan’s at €1.65m.

“I kept my hand up the longest,” joked Anthony, who said he and his wife Sharon are looking forward to running the new business.

The bar and restaurant are expected to remain ‘as is’ for July, August and September, and then work will begin to convert the off-licence to a “locals bar”, and the main bar will be completely overhauled.

“It will be a rustic BBQ bar unique to Galway. We have a concept, I have a super guy who’s going to look after the food and my nephew Stephen (O’Reilly) will look after the bar,” he said.

He expects the ‘new O’Reilly’s’ to open its doors in November after a short closure for work to be carried out.

“I’m delighted, but very scared. When you sign things now with the bank, it’s very, very different ball game. But the bank was happy with the proposals, so we’re ready for it.”

The new business will employ around 15 people in the Winter, and up to 30 in the Summer.

The old O’Reilly’s building

The O’Reilly family operated the pub from the early 1960s until 2002, when it was sold for around €1.8 million.

The premises and an adjoining house were bought by Pat and Geraldine Lohan, who went on to invest a further estimated €5 million in building the new premises.

“The quality of the building that I’ve bought is outstanding. No expense was spared, it is by far the best-developed bar in town, and has a basement any operator would love to have,” said Anthony.

He also owns the Supermac’s outlet in Salthill and a successful catering company.