EXCLUSIVE: Iconic Mayo institution set to reopen in Westport on Friday night

A popular Westport late-night venue is set to reopen its doors tomorrow evening after months of closure, with owner Joe O'Malley confirming the news to The Mayo News shortly after securing the necessary licenses. 

Joe and Marian O'Malley are "really excited about opening and it's going to be a different venue and is going to add to the entertainment in Westport and a choice for people to go to."

Henehan’s will welcome customers back at 9pm on Friday evening, with O'Malley describing the reopening as 'a race against time' to get everything ready for the busy Christmas period.

"We've got it across the line. A lot of work done, but we're there," O'Malley said, speaking shortly after leaving court this afternoon where the late bar license was granted.

The timing couldn't have been tighter, with the district court approving the license a day before the planned reopening. "Right to the wire," O'Malley acknowledged when asked about the timeline.

The venue will operate throughout the Christmas period and into the new year, with a full schedule of entertainment planned.

"We have a schedule of entertainment, a lot of entertainment lined up," O'Malley confirmed, adding cryptically: "Watch this space, some good entertainment."

O'Malley admitted the uncertainty around whether they would secure the opening for Christmas made preparations challenging. "We very much didn't know whether we'd get it open for Christmas, so to get everything ready for entertainment and stuff like that was a bit of a challenge."

Customers can expect some changes when they visit the revamped venue. "There will be significant changes. It'll be a different thing," O'Malley said, encouraging people to come in and see for themselves.

The reopening will provide another late-night option for Westport's busy hospitality scene. "It's going to be another choice for people," O'Malley said. "It's going to add to the late night, to the entertainment."

Henehan's is part of O'Malley's West Coast Hospitality Group, which also includes Cosy Joe's, The Porter House Bar and The Barrell & Castle in Castlebar.