Famous ‘Killinaskully’ pub serving pints again
Over-flowing ‘pints’ with their creamy tops are being pulled again to serve the customers in ‘Jacksie's Bar’, the pub that was made famous countrywide in the popular RTÉ television series ‘Killinaskully’ more than a decade and a half ago.
Under new management, An Bonnán Buí, best known to television viewers as ‘Jacksie's’ has re-opened to a local community welcome in the village of Ballinahinch.
During the early years of the new millennium, the premises located in the television village of ‘Killinaskully’ featured extensively in the series as a focal point in the setting, while the interior as seen on the screens was shot in Ryan's thatched pub in the neighbouring Killoscully.
Each year, for the duration of the top-rating television series, the locals enjoyed mingling with a host of celebrity actors for the filming of the ‘Killinaskully’ comedy series during the early months of summer.
The premises, which was recently purchased by Martin Kennedy, Newport, a former county councillor and lifelong GAA follower and officer of the Newport GAA Club, has now re-opened.
“It is hard to believe it, but it is 16 years,” said Martin, recalling when he last pulled a pint at the premises under a lease arrangement for a short period. Since then management has changed a number of times.
Now it has become his home and his business centre, as the lights shine again, the pints are being pulled and the ‘craic’ and banter of the customers echoes into the evening air once more.
Friday night week last marked the first parish event of the new era at the premises, when it hosted a fundraising quiz for the nearby national school.
Contestants at more than 20 tables put their knowledge to the test at history, general knowledge, sporting and the odd tricky question.
Most of them did work out ‘What cheese is made backwards’, but trying to remember the team Ballinahinch defeated to win the Intermediate Hurling Championship in 1980 proved more testing and full marks in any round were the achievements of the few.
The score leader tally swayed to and fro after each round was added and in the end, the quartet led by Amy Finn took the honours by the narrow margin of two points with two teams sharing second place.
Amy was supported on her team by N Ryan, B Crosse and E Finn to form the quartet.
Generous sponsors provided dozens of hampers, whiskey, wine, cosmetics, etc, for a draw, while Philip Kelly, chairman, presented the prizes to the winners in the quiz and Shane McGrath, Principal, Ballinahinch National School, thanked everyone for their support for the school fundraiser, which he assured them was very much appreciated.
He also presented a cheque for €1,260, proceeds from a coffee morning at the school, to Alan Kelly, who received it on behalf of Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick.