Brian Coyne’s of Kinnegad is 156 years old and still going strong with pints at just €5

THE Old Commando has been on the road for a long time and Kinnegad is a town he has passed through more times than he cares to remember, although not nearly as much as he used to prior to the M4 motorway being built.

He describes Kinnegad as ‘the gateway’ to the west of Ireland and said the locals (of a certain age group) must have noticed a monumental drop in traffic over the past 20 years or so.

“Kinnegad, Tyrrellspass, Kilbeggan and Moate, sure you couldn’t go to Galway without passing through all these small towns and villages.

The traffic would be chaos,” the Old Commando told us as we arrived outside Brian Coyne’s pub on the Main Street.

“I’d say the residents are delighted with the M4 but I’m not so sure the locals’ businesses would be,” he continued. “They must have suffered a lot over the years.”

Despite all the passing through the Kinnegad area over the years, this was the first time this group of Commandos had been to Brian Coyne’s pub.

The exterior was in very good condition and the red and white bunting representing the local senior football team and their recent appearance in the county final was still on display.

“Didn’t do them much good, unfortunately they lost,” the Old Commando said as we arrived at the entrance.

The price list in the in the front porch was advertising pints of Guinness for €5 and our Commandos remarked that this is now four weeks in a row where we had managed to get pints of stout for €5.

However, we soon discovered upon ordering our drinks that we were charged €5.50 and that the price list at the front door is wrong. As we have reminded many publicans so far this year, it’s imperative that this is kept up to date and the wrong prices are not displayed.

It’s a legal requirement.

There was an experienced barmaid on duty during our visit and despite it being very busy she worked alone and never missed a beat.

The mixed clientele was young to elderly and there was a super atmosphere in the bar. The next thing that struck us — after the price list — was just how warm it was in this pub even though temperatures weren’t far above zero. We had barely taken our seats when we began to strip the coats and jumpers off.

The brown leather bench seating was limited but in good condition, while the cream leather barstools were very comfortable and the timber flooring looked as good as new.

There are five TVs in the bar, including a Boyle bookies TV with betting odds, while the shelves are fully stocked with an array of vodkas, whiskeys, gins and brandys.

“Oh good lord, Aftershock,” the Young Commando commented. “The blue and the red stuff nearly killed me in my college years. It would blow the head off you!” he joked.

The beer garden, consisting of a marquee, is at the rear of the pub beside the toilets and although we had quick peek around it was bitter cold and we had no intention of staying there.

Our Young Commando carried out the toilets inspection and he reported that everything was in good working condition and said they were clean.

This pub is 156 years old and is still going strong today.

We had a wonderful time perched at the end of the counter, listening to the locals tell yarns and sipping the creamy pints of stout.

The only blemish from our visit was the price list which is a very minor but important thing that can be very easily rectified.

We’ll be back again and we’d highly recommend a visit to Brian Coyne’s pub in Kinnegad.

Rating: Four pints out of Five

One for the road…

DENIS COYNE – Kinnegad

Eight and a half years ago we visited Denis Coyne’s pub and promised we’d return some day. Well, promise fulfilled.

While the creamy pints of Guinness may not be €4.20 anymore we still really enjoyed our visit to this pub and were warmly received by the bearded barman on duty.

Huddling in front of the warm open coal fire, our Commandos got very comfortable very quickly as we perched ourselves at the counter in the front bar.

There was a mixed clientele of all ages but the second section of the pub was where most of the younger crowd was situated as they were using the pool table and jukebox.

The toilets were quite spacious and very clean with three urinals, two sinks, a cubicle and a hand dryer.

Our last visit in 2015 was a long time ago now but Denis Coyne’s pub in Kinnegad is still held in high esteem by our Commandos.

Rating: Four pints out of Five