Seans - Athlone - Reviews & Contact Details
(36 reviews)
Reviews (36)
Seans by Cailin Gaelige
Just bring back the trad and Irish Artist music, after that stay the way you are , Seans is not meant to change with the times, thats what its all about, PLEASE dont forget that
Sean was a card. the oldest pup?!!well we did have some fun back in the day,I lived upstairs for a number of years, yes I had to go to the telephone box to turn on the heat for the radiator,Dermot was hilarious My brother and I played regularly with Larry and Geraldine and any number of session musicians its not the best pup its not the worst pup it all depends on the night the people the moon as with any pub in the world the oldest or one that just opened last night. but my memories of seans will never die
this bar is one of the finest bars i have every visited,paul/timmy always give you a warm welcome.
the place is so warm and welcoming its a pleasure to drink in.
not forgeting "THE SLIP" what a great man and a very dear friend
The old guy with the Pony tail is Larry Benson. He played the fiddle there for 30 years. Thursday nights and Sunday mornings. Unable to play now,due to years catching up,on him, I believe he is now 84. Still around, but not playing anymore. I remember going there years ago on many a Sunday Morning. Larry would start playing one of his favourite tunes, the *Coolin* The Pub would stand still, total silence, you could hear a pin drop.
What a memory, what a session.
I have been there on and off for the past few years. No sessions like those anymore, but still a great Pub.
the oldest pub in the world is the fighting cock inn in st albans whichh has been dated to the 8th century. I know this will be shouted down by racist anglophobes but it is never the less true.
The Oldest Pub in continious ownership by the same family is in Ballinagare Co Roscommon. It is a small pub called Morahans Ballinagare. B J Morahan is the owner. They have documentary proof of the licence dating back to 1840 and are trading since 1641. There are lot of claims as to who has the oldest building with a pub in it but Morahans Bar Ballinagare are one of the oldest Bars in Ireland in contioious ownership.
I am afraid you are ALL wrong. The oldest pub in Ireland is actually yer ma.
i have been seans on and off for about 20 years. i think it has lost its friendly charm. it was better when sean fitzsimmons ran it. it has a very curt and unfriendly staff and a regular clientel of stuffy british ex pats. the staff dont engage in conversation with the
non regulars only the locals. best bar in athlone
is carthys for fun and craic
Its the finest pub I have ever been in. The atmosphere is very friendly and the music fantastic. I got a huge welcome from two of the bar men, Dennis and Colm. Agem of a place and a must see
well - the place is fine during the summer when you can relax outside - apart from that it's too small inside. A nice pub though & the Brazen Head is a good pub also, can't beat a session in either.
Tourist trap. Avoid at all costs, but P.T. Barnum was right, observe the suckers in there for proof. Smelly students who prefer to spill drink over themselves rather than spend on soap. Talking pure shite as if they had shoulders of wisdom, and they not even nappy-changed.
You've been warned.
The fiddler referred to above was the legendary Larry Benson, who was part of the furniture in Seans for many years from the early 70s onwards - he played there on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings.
Last time I was there, some gurrier stuck my pint to the counter with superglue.
My family and I loved Sean's. My wife was born and raised in Ireland and we went back over to see the family with our two girls. We all agree that it is a must see. the session was great and the drinks were not bitter or warm, contrary to some beilef. Definetly a MUST SEE!!!
Grace Neill's is the oldest pub in Ireland, according to the Guinness World Records. The label "oldest pub" should probably realy be "oldest licensed pub", as Grace Neill's received a licence in 1611. The pub existed before that of course (the pub was renamed to honour a patron), and has existed as a pub continuously ever since. Sean's is probably older, but more than likely didn't become licensed until after Grace Neill's. Try them both if you're near them.
Great pup. Mighty craic. Smooth Guinness. Soft music. Friendly customers what more could you want?
Was taken for a drink to Sean's when we visited Athlone this weekend. The music was traditional but we did not stay long and so didnt really have chance to really 'fit in'. An enjoyable hour.
Ok just to set the record straight! Seans bar is offically dated to the 10th century, it was then called Luains inn. So who ever thinks the Brazen head is the oldest dating from the 12th century is totally wrong! (if the guys at guinness said so it must be true!)
The Guinness Book of Records confirms that Sean's Bar in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, built in the year 900, is the oldest pub in Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales, and is probably the oldest pub in the world. Sean's Bar was built 300 years before Athlone Castle across the street and the building still contains a section of the "Clay & Wattle" wall with which it was originally built. The Brazen Head in Dublin has long claimed to be Ireland's oldest pub, but it is in fact hundreds of years junior to its Athlone counterpart
So Brazen head fans- get it right
I was at Seans last week, a lovely place with lovely people. All of the bartenders, Chris, Hazel and all the others were brilliant, and dont forget John the beer man!!! Seans was officially declared the oldest bar a few years ago when it was confirmed that the bar dates back to 900AD. Its a wonderful place to meet locals and travellers alike. There was live music on each of the 3 nights I was in town, I'll make an effort to return there again. It was great craic.
to Tony-with-no-pony, i think u should check your information again, it did but not anymore. o.k
It doesnt look like much on the outside but the spirit of the place comes alive when u walk in! I guess since the spirit is on its 3rd millenium (from what i read on the walls..dating back to 900ad) that it is well experienced! We had an all together grand time in the garden meeting folks from all over the globe.
Great little bar, it is the Oldest in Ireland and the British Isles, the earlier post re the Gerry Ryan Show is correct. I worked there for a few years, never saw any bar staff been ignorant or arogant to anyone, gret place for fun during the summer and pulling foregin women too. Sebastian, I think you will find you cousin Paul is merely a bar man in that pub near the castle, the whole town of Athlone knows it is owned by a well known Solicitor.
When I was there in 2001, there was a wonderful old fiddler in - maybe he's still there I don't know. He had a grey pony tail and during one of his sessions, there were some German tourists sitting right in front of where he was playing. They were a little loud in their speaking and the fiddler tapped one of them on the shoulder with his bow and having got their attention, proceeded to play "Deutschland uber Alles" which ensured their on-going attention thereafter! God the man could play the fiddle!
Sean's is the oldest Bar in The British Isles, it's a fact.
About 2 years ago the owner of the brazen head and the owenrs of Seans were invited onto Gerry Ryans Radio show on RTE Radio one and The owner of the brazen head admitted on national radio that given the evidence presented (a wattle and mud wal section found on the land seans is bult on) and historical records dating back to the 5th century that Seans' Bar was infact the oldest bar in ireland.
I have to second the view of an earlier reviewer in saying the Brazen Head is the oldest pub in Ireland. There is documented evidence that it dates back to the 12th century. I haven't visited Sean's bar and will check it out when I'm down there - it may be old but it isn't the oldest pub. See the plaques in the Brazen Head guaranteeing it's the oldest - in any case its a great place to visit
i've been in this but many times when i was living in Athlone ! Tradditional irish pub, very good atmosphere, nice beer garden !
traditional music sesion on sunday ! sure try it !
This is my cousin pub and its a great place to have a drink or two. great muisc and a great pint of GUINNESS!
Should also try my other cousin pub Paul Donovan (brother of Timmy sean's bar) but i'll let you find that one yourself. (tip, its near the Castle Inn)
i guess it comes down to the meaning of the 'the oldest pub', is it the one that's being most open, or the one that on the site of an old pub, bus was something else for most of its life.
This has being covered again and again on national tv, radio, etc, and at the end of the day who cares.
Seans is an old pub, and interesting spot that always very full to the point of it being hard to get to the bar without bumping into people. Sometimes mid week there's music on, which used be good.
And there we get to the main point of my review, I generally like the place, and the people, but haven't been there in a while due to witnessing some very ignorant and arrogant or possibly elitest behaviour from the new owners/runners/staff of the bar.
I had spent many years drinking there, and would not recommend it as a 'local' based soley on seeing this.
Though it is worth having a look in if you are a tourist etc. Hopefully you'll receive better service and manners than that which, though not the receipant of, I have been witness to.
bob
I have been in Seans many times, whn I lived in Ireland. Now an ex-pat livingin the U.S. the GBR is wrong. The oldest pub tavern with verifiable records in Ireland is the Brazen Head in Dublin, goes back to the 12th Century. Sorry...The Brazen Head is Dublin's oldest pub with a history going back eight centuries.
The Brazen Head is a traditional pub located on Bridge Street by the River Liffey on the Southside of the city. Reputed to be the oldest drinking establishment in Dublin, there has been a bar on this site since the 12th century when it was located in the medieval city with the original tavern being replaced by a coaching inn in the late 17th century.
As you enter the entrance of The Brazen Head the first thing you meet is the old courtyard, which turns into a beer garden in the summer. The Brazen Head has two bars that are strewn with old memorabilia reflecting the bar's long history in the city. The Brazen Head has played a central role in the Dublin's history with famous patrons such as Irish nationalists like Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet and Daniel O'Connell drinking there and Irish writers like James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh and Brendan Behan frequenting this old haunt.
They pour a fine pint of Guinness and the price of drink is a little more expensive for this area of the city as The Brazen Head has always been a popular tourist destination. There is late night drinking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a live trad session every night and an early session on Sundays featuring some of the country's finest traditional musicians. Carvery lunch is served daily in the bar and the more formal Courthouse Restaurant serves an extensive menu of Irish and International dishes including Dublin Bay Prawns and Traditional Irish Stew.
as soon as u go in u'll never want to leave.Hazel is one of the nicest staff members anyone could meet,that would make anyone want to call again
According to the Guinness Book of Records 2004, Sean's Bar is not only the oldest pub in Ireland, but also the British Isles.
A nice pub, though the oldest pub in Ireland is officially Grace Neill's in Donaghadee, County Down, which dates from 1611.
Review from n/a by anonymous
This pub is supposed to be the oldest pub in Ireland and has the decor to prove it, but if its a traditional Irish pub your after then this is a must see.
