A warm welcome at Kelly’s Bar

Kelly’s Bar celebrated one year since reopening on Killeshandra’s mainstreet.

Finbarr Kiernan considers himself “very lucky” to continue the legacy of the late Donal Kelly, a “pioneering individual” who formerly owned the bar.

“It’s been an incredible year and we are so genuinely overwhelmed by the support we got from the community and from Killeshandra and the surrounding areas. “It’s absolutely a pleasure to be open.”

With Sean Corrigan managing the pub and a team of skilled bar people, a night in Kelly’s among friends and family will be one to remember.

As well as the ten pubs of Christmas starting in Kelly’s at 5pm on December 21, Finbarr promised “a number of music acts” over the festive period. In a cosy, homely environment, Finbarr assured: “There’ll be lots of fun and craic.”

He hopes, like last year, people will come home for Christmas and Kelly’s became the “epicentre” of that return.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming back all those people who are far away and come home for Christmas along with our locals who are only too good to us.”

He looked back on a busy year with Trad Fest, the “massive” St Patrick’s Day Parade, the fleadh, their Halloween fancy dress and other events. “Now we’re back again full circle looking forward to Christmas.”

Generally only open on weekends, the pub will open every day over the Christmas period from Friday, December 20 until January 1, with the exception of Christmas Day. The closing time on Christmas eve will be 10pm. Keep an eye on their social media pages for weekend events and acts over the Christmas period.

Originally from Newtowngore and now living in Drumlane, Finbar said: “Killeshandra is a fantastic community and I mean that from the bottom of my heart, there’s something about the place.”