The Pubs of Cork: A fourth generation running the show at iconic Creedon’s bar

For more than two centuries, Creedon’s Hotel in the mid-Cork village of Inchigeelagh has been in the hospitality trade.

It started off in 1820 as a thatched inn, and has blossomed into a large venue with 14 rooms, food, a beer garden, and music.

The Creedon family, who have run the pub since 1941, have moved with the times and adapted accordingly.

The history of Inchigeelagh and its surrounding areas can be learned by looking at the pictures on the walls of this fascinating building, and if you have any questions, just ask the main man, Joe Creedon.

He is an encyclopedia of local knowledge and one of the driving forces behind preserving this historical area’s story for future generations.

Not only that, but Joe has also been known to stop any arguments at the bar by bursting into song and encouraging the warring parties to join in. It’s the mark of any good barman!

You couldn’t have a better pairing than Joe and Anne Creedon for running a successful hotel and bar.

Anne’s family, who are from Knocknagoshel in the mighty kingdom of Kerry, have been in the pub trade for generations.

Her father holds no less than eight football medals, one of which is proudly kept in the hotel here.

As for Joe, his grandmother was a butter merchant and a postmistress, the family had a dairy in Friars Walk in the city, and his grandfather was a miner in Bantry Bay from the age of 12. He went out to Montana to work, but the love of home brought him back in 1911 and he bought the hotel and bar in Cork in 1941.

There were 14 in the family, and so old Mr Creedon knew that they could live and work here and take care of their older relatives as the years went by.

Inchigeelagh used to be a trading post, so there were always markets and fairs around it, and it was once the main road from Cork to Bantry.

There was also salmon fishing before the hydro-dams were built, so hotels and bars in this village were traditionally busy. There are just two bars left today.

With the fourth generation of the family now in charge, Creedon’s Hotel has gone from strength to strength - although it wasn’t always easy.

“The financial crash took a toll on our business,” Joe says, “but my mother decided to start catering for weddings and managed 28 in one month!”

Anne and Joe have three sons, and it was Eamonn that showed an interest in the pub and hotel trade, and who now manages this successful business.

“My mum and I knew we had to reimagine the business,” he says. “So, when I was out of school during covid and my friend was out of work, we decided to add a beer garden which we called ‘Ned’s Shed’.

“It was a huge success as we were able to serve food and keep the community spirits high during difficult times.”

Anne reinvented the menu using local suppliers and fresh local produce, and now the bar has a menu with everything from Toonsbridge dairy tapas boards, to local buffalo burgers, fresh fish from Kenmare, and the ever-popular Sunday roast.

They also have an extensive pizza menu during the week, with everything from meat feasts to Clonakilty pudding pizza for toppings.

In the breakfast room at Creedon’s Hotel there are paintings of West Cork landscapes by artist Maria Burke, and the family display the works of other artists at other times, to show their support and showcase the abundance of talent in the local area.

The Creedons play a big part in the annual Inchigeelagh festival that originally ran in the 1970s and was revived in 2010.

Back in the ’70s, there was a big top and the likes of Big Tom entertained the revellers. Now, they have a marquee with a beer licence and a selection of top-notch musicians that draw crowds in their thousands every year.

The festival runs over two weekends every August and is managed and marshalled by the local GAA.

At the heart of most things that happen in this village are the Creedons.

“Since covid, we’re getting busier and busier,” Eamonn says, “families for Sunday lunch, pizza midweek, and people are coming from Macroom and Dunmanway regularly, and especially when we have live music in the beer garden.

“Last weekend, we had a christening and a surprise birthday party, an art exhibition opening, and a vintage bike rally, and they stayed over for the weekend.

“There is social dancing in the Village Hall every second Sunday and the dancers will come over for their supper, so that could be 60 people calling,” Joe adds.

The Daniel Corkery Summer School is held here every year as well, and artists, writers, poets and actors come from all over to take part in the classes and plays.

On a recent weekend, they catered to a clan gathering of the O’Leary’s from all over the world. This was the 30th year of the gathering, with people arriving from places as far flung as Colombia - so there is always something happening at Creedon’s!

The business employs 15 staff and the bar is open from 4pm Monday to Saturday and all day on Sunday.

Oh, and if the sun is shining, the roof in Ned’s Shed is retractable so you can have music, fine food, and sunshine all at the back of the bar.

This really is a gem of a place, with history, storytelling, the arts, fine food and a welcome second to none.

Check then out on Facebook and Instagram; call them on 026 49012; email joecreedon@gmail.com.