Skelly’s Bar in Ballymahon

Right at the centre of Ballymahon in County Longford is Skelly’s pub. An unassuming little grocery and off-license from the front, the pub is accessed through a side alley, depositing one into the pub’s surprisingly large beer garden.

The sheer number of sessions and concerts that have occurred in this venue boggle the mind. Due primarily to the efforts of locally-based No Ego Promotions, Skelly’s pub has seen the famous and the fantastic appear beneath the timber railroad beam above their massive fireplace.

At the moment, the owners are building a lodging house behind the pub, which is bound to add an extra bustle and buzz to the little pub.

On any given night, the wooden pub floor with be crowded and patrons will be leaning across the central partition to share a joke or conversation. Winter nights will find a monstrous fire blazing in the fireplace and, thanks to the strong musical community, the odd weekend will find some accomplished musician or another setting up their equipment in the corner.

The next time you’re in County Longford, sure drop down to Skelly’s for a well-poured pint and a bit of craic.