Nestling in an attractive wooded hamlet in the Dublin Mountains, south of Dublin city, this popular pub dates back to the eighteenth century and has numerous claims to fame, including the fact that Daniel O'Connell was once a regular, apparently, and it's "undoubtedly" the highest pub in the land.
Owned by Geraldine and Tony McMahon since 1987, it's a warm, friendly and well run place, that's just about equally famous for its food at the "Famous Seafood Kitchen" and its music "Famous Hooley Nights" (booking advisable).
Unlike so many superficially similar pubs, it's also real. Kitsch, perhaps, but the rickety old furniture is real, the dust is real and there is a turf or log fire at every turn. It's a pleasant place to drop into at quieter times too, if you're walking in the hills or just loafing around, but its most useful function is that Dubliners find it an amusing place to take visitors from abroad.
However, although the main USP of this entertaining place is that it makes an unusual outing, it's also a popular dining destination for Dubliners. Executive Head Chef Aykan Arslan and Chef Jiri Pesak do a consistently good job cooking for large numbers at this ever-popular venue, and their wholesome specialities - like seafood chowder (served with homemade bread), mussels, ribs, and local lamb - never fail to please.
And best of all, for many visitors, is the speciality that they round it all off with - Irish Coffee, made with their own 'Johnnie Fox' whiskey.
Always an amusing place to take visitors from abroad - and reservations are recommended if you wish to eat.
