Castlebar pub opens its doors after major refurbishment

The Barrel & Castle, formerly Bosh Bar, has opened its doors to the public after undergoing an extensive refurbishment.

The grand opening of the Barrel & Castle saw proprietors Joe and Marian O’Malley joined by family, friends, local business people and politicians, as well as many new customers.

Mr O’Malley’s mother Mary did the honours of cutting the ribbon outside the new front.

The Mayo man said he and his wife are ‘delighted to be open and to be welcoming customers to our new pub in Castlebar’.

“We have a fantastic team who have worked hard to make this a reality, including all of the local tradesmen and suppliers who worked with us in the refurbishment period” he added.

Having been closed for five years, the immense refurbishment of the premises took over a year, during which a huge amount of work was involved in changing the offering.

The project was managed by Mr O’Malley, who along with his wife, are also proprietors of the award-winning pubs, the Porter House and Cosy Joe’s Bar in Westport.

The spacious bar features two levels as well as a beer garden with its own bar and covered and heated sections. The luxurious décor is stylish and unlike anywhere else in the area. 

Employing over 40 people, the Barrel & Castle is a significant new employer in the town. 

Brasserie-style dining for both lunch and dinner began this week, and the feedback so far has been excellent. 

There are cosy booths and more open seating areas as well as many comfortable stools for perching at the bar.

“We have an exciting journey ahead, and no doubt there will be teething problems and small challenges along the way. However, we are committed to ironing them out as quickly as possible to provide the best possible experience for our customers. We look forward to many busy years ahead in the Barrel & Castle,” Mr O’Malley concluded.