Local pub is Ireland’s #1
Larkin’s pub in Garrykennedy has been named the best pub in Ireland by the Times out of a list showcasing the best 50 pubs in Ireland.
“It’s very special to all the people who work here and our family,” expressed Muireann Boyle from Garrykennedy who runs the pub alongside her family.
“It means a lot. All the hard work that everyone has put in over the past few years. When you are so busy, and your head is down, you don’t expect something like this,” she shared to The Nenagh Guardian.
“We were shocked to be honest,” she continued, as to how the establishment reacted to being ranked in first place out of 50 pubs in Ireland.
#1 out of 50 pubs in Ireland
The Times, a British daily national newspaper, ranked Larkin’s pub and restaurant in number 1 place out of a list of 50 of the best pubs in Ireland.
Reacting to the news on their social media page, the pub wrote:
“Larkin’s has always been about more than just a pub. It’s about people, community, friendship, family, delicious food, great conversations and making memories,”.
The pub thanked their ‘amazing team’, their customers and that they are so proud to represent Garrykennedy and their beautiful lakeside community.
Testament to their Staff
“All the staff are very friendly, that’s the main feedback we get back every day,” expressed Muireann about the staff in Larkin’s in Garrykennedy, which she believes is one of the main reasons the pub received such an accolade.
“Without them you wouldn’t be able to run as smoothly. People come back for a reason. Obviously, your food is important, but if you are not getting looked after, if your customer service isn’t up to standard, I don’t think anyone is going to come back,” expressed Muireann in admiration of the waiting staff in Larkins.
“It’s all one big family,” she continued, highlighting how well Muireann believes everyone in the pub enjoys working alongside one another.
“Everyone gets on, and I think people come for the family aspect.
“It’s always been a family friendly venue,” reflected Muireann as to how the business has chosen to operate in the heart of Garrykennedy.
Family Run Establishment
Larkin’s is run by the Boyle family, Maura. Cormac, Cillian, Cathal, Diarmuid and Muireann.
At present, Cormac. Cillian, and Muireann are taking the lead at running the establishment.
However, as expressed by Muireann, much of the success of Larkin’s pub and restaurant is down to the hard work of her mother, Maura Boyle:
“So many people know my mam, most people coming here ask for her straight away,” reflected Muireann.
“She’s always had time for everyone and always makes time for everyone, whether it’s your first time in the door or if you have been here every weekend,” she continued.
“For her to have all the hard work that she has done for twenty years, and my dad, and just to see that it can happen when she’s not there, but that it wouldn’t have happened if she hadn’t put in all the hard work over the years,” she expressed, explaining that her mom has currently taken a break from working in the business and has left it in the hands of her husband and her children for the time being.
Mystery Visit
In May, Cassie Stokes, an online personality who showcases various establishments online from across Ireland, called out to Larkin’s pub in Garrykennedy as part of an online series that she was doing around Ireland, ranking pubs and restaurants in each county:
“She came out and met myself and Cillian, my brother. There wasn’t really any mention of this as such. She wasn’t able to tell us, she said it was for something that she couldn’t really talk about,” revealed Muireann to The Nenagh Guardian as to how she believes Larkins was ranked on this list with ‘The Times’.
Although Larkin’s are very proud of how they run their establishment in Garrykennedy, they did not expect to be ranked in number one place out of the 50 best pubs in Ireland.