The Pubs of Cork: Family-run pub has been in heart of community for 130 years 

A family-run pub, Ó Murchú’s of Kilnamartyra has been in the heart of the Muscraí Gaeltacht community for almost 130 years.

On July 7, 1897, a licence was granted to Mr Denis Buckley, from Lane and Co Ltd, a competitor of Beamish and Murphys breweries, and the story of this venerable public house began.

In 1935, the licence was transferred from Denis Buckley to Thomas Murphy and his wife Lena, and it has remained with the Murphy family ever since.

After Thomas’s passing, his son Séan and his wife Peig ran the pub for many years, and after Sean passed away in 1954 the licence was transferred to Peig.

Their son Thomas Jnr reflects: “When my dad Séan passed away, it fell to my mother to run the pub and she quickly became the mother of the village. Everyone loved her.”

Unfortunately, Lena fell ill and it was decided to lease the pub out in May, 2012, as none of the family were in a position to take the business on.

Twelve years later, in 2024, Lena’s daughter Muireann approached her brother Thomas and asked if she and her husband could run the business.

The family have never looked back.

“It is wonderful to be back in my family home,” says Muireann. “This building holds wonderful memories of my childhood and my parents.

“I’m sure mam would be delighted with how the pub looks now.

The changes to the building have made it a most comfortable and welcoming space for locals and visitors alike, but the essence of the pub remains.

Muireann’s husband Kevin Manning explains: “The changes we made were cosmetic, new floors and new furniture and soft furnishings.

“The pergola is the most recent addition and it was a wise investment. It’s a lovely place to sit, and during the summer we were able to open the sliding glass windows and let a breeze through. It has been a huge success.”

The focal point in the main bar is the burner, which many visitors comment on. Thomas came across it at an auction.

“I knew it would fit in perfectly,” he says, “and as it is aluminium it won’t get hot to the touch, it was a good find!”

These are difficult times for pubs, especially in rural areas. A quarter of Ireland’s pubs have closed since 2005, a recent report by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI) revealed.

However, the village of Kilnamartyra is bucking the trend, Kevin says.

“We have two pubs here and both are doing well,” he said.

“We unfortunately lost our post office and shop two years ago, but with the football pitch bringing crowds to matches, and with music and food, the heart of the community is thriving.”

“We have a music session in the back room on Monday nights,” Muireann says, “everyone from Rachel Ní Riada to Ger Wolfe would be here. It’s a traditional session and it’s always a special night.

“There are musicians that might not be confident playing their instrument in public in the main bar, but they’ll join in with the practice in the back room, and with a bit of time and encouragement they are joining in now and letting their natural talent shine through.

“You never know who might turn up, a few weeks ago Brooke Scullion, from series nine of The Voice UK, called to us and stayed for a pizza so you never know who might be here!”

Ó Murchú’s have cards on Tuesday and Friday nights, and there is live music in the bar every few weeks.

The family are well known for their catering, and birthday celebrations are a regular occurrence with finger food and petit fours renowned in the area.

Ó Murchu’s have a pizza menu that brings in customers from far afield, and provides those who may not want to have a drink with a reason to call in.

Like all good rural pubs, everyone says hello as you walk in, and the clientele are a mixture of young and old. The conversation runs between the staff and their customers, giving a home away from home feel.

The pub has also started a breakfast menu on Sunday mornings, which is written in both English and Irish as befits a pub in the Gaeltacht, and offers everything from the traditional full Irish to Belgian waffles to poached eggs on sourdough.

“It is truly a family affair,” Muireann says, “whenever it’s busy, it’s all-hands-on deck and everyone in the family is happy to get stuck in.”

So what changes are they seeing in recent years?

“People are tapping cards more now than using cash and they are coming out earlier,” Kevin says, “you see it on Sunday nights especially.

“People come out between 6.30pm and 9.30pm and then it’s quiet.

“Of course, taxis are hard to come by, but we’re happy to drop our regulars home at the end of the night.”

The couple are happy here.

“I love being here and having the family here,” says Muireann. “We’ve a lot to live up to as mam was much loved in the community and everyone has anecdotal tales to tell about her and her kindness, but we’re doing our best to make her proud.”

Ó Murchú’s takes booking for groups and can be contacted on 087 3466795.

Email: omurchukilnamartyra@gmail.com