We will explain this controversy more in detail, as well as show you why Sean’s Bar is the clear winner of the title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oldest Pubs in Ireland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Over the years Ireland has almost become synonymous with pub culture. The residents of Ireland are famous for imbibing and brewing traditional Irish whiskey as far back as anyone can remember. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owing to the Irish love of the strong stuff\u00a0there\u00a0have been many pubs, inns, and drinking establishments built in the country over the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are welcoming places for people to meet, socialize, and enjoy good food, good beer, and good company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of the pubs in Ireland are hundreds of years old, but some of the oldest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Sean’s Bar – 990, Athlone<\/strong><\/li>
- The Brazen Head\u00a0\u2013 1198, Dublin\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- Kytelers\u00a0Inn \u2013 1263, Kilkenny\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- Grace\u00a0Neills\u00a0\u2013 1611,\u00a0Donaghadee\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- Morahans\u00a0\u2013 1641,\u00a0Roscommon\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- Gateway Bar \u2013 1698, Cork City\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- McHughs\u00a0Bar \u2013 1711, Belfast\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>
- Johnny Fox\u2019s Pub \u2013 1798, Dublin\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It is obvious that owing to Ireland\u2019s long-ranging history, there are a large number of pubs and inns with dates spanning back over the decades.\u00a0Structures\u00a0date all the way from the 9th\u00a0to the current century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than one of\u00a0these buildings\u00a0claim to be from old or ancient origins.\u00a0The history of these locations is undeniable with records verifying the length of their existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the title of \u2018The oldest pub in Ireland\u2019 is\u00a0much coveted\u00a0and has been fought over in recent years between two different establishments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/overinireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/the-brazen-head-oldest-pub-in-ireland.jpg?resize=750%2C501\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Brazen Head\u00a0– The Second Oldest Pub in Ireland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Brazen Head<\/a>\u00a0has said for many years that it\u2019s the \u2018oldest pub in Ireland\u2019 and still displays a statement claiming as such on its website. The building\u00a0has\u00a0a history dating back to 1198 and used to be coaching in for travelers to stop and rest on their journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today it is still serving and entertaining guests and tourists that enter its doors. It has a recorded history of some very famous visitors over the years. Irish literary figures Brendan Bahan, and Flann O\u2019Brien visited the location, and James Joyce often frequented the establishment and even mentioned the pub in \u2018Ulysses\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick visit to The Brazen Head\u2019s website confirms its historic relevance.\u00a0However, is it really Ireland’s oldest pub?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All evidence suggests that Sean\u2019s Bar is in fact, the oldest by quite a\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0years….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/overinireland.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/seans-bar-oldest-pub-ireland.jpg?resize=750%2C563&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSean\u2019s\u00a0Bar: The Real Oldest Pub in Ireland AND The Oldest Pub in Europe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regardless of The Brazen Head\u2019s claims, and according to the good people at the Guinness Book of Records,\u00a0Sean\u2019s Bar<\/a>\u00a0in Athlone, County Roscommon is not only the oldest bar in Ireland, but the oldest pub in Europe <\/a>dating back to 990 AD<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As if this were not enough, there have also been attempts to determine if Sean\u2019s Bar is the oldest in the world, but this is unconfirmed as yet. The Brazen Head dates back to 1198 \u2013 some three hundred younger than\u00a0Sean’s\u00a0Bar.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not clear why there is such a hot dispute between the two locations, but you can bet the Guinness Record’s guys verified their facts before publishing the data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Facts that were supported when an\u00a0excavation\u00a0at Sean\u2019s Bar during the 1970\u2019s revealed old fashioned wattle and daub walls dating back to the nine\u00a0hundred. Old coins that were discovered during the same time are now on display at the National History Museum in Dublin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to records, the owners of the 2 establishments appeared on a local\u00a0radio\u00a0show to debate the issue. The Brazen Head eventually conceded when presented with the evidence dating\u00a0Sean’s\u00a0Bar to the\u00a0nine\u00a0hundred, yet it still continues to state that it is the oldest pub in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent years The Brazen Head has started to shift is dialogue to claim it\u2019s the oldest pub in Dublin. Even so, to the uninformed visitors and tourists coming to the\u00a0Emerald\u00a0Isle, The Brazen Head\u00a0is\u00a0still thought to be the oldest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Brazen Head\u00a0\u2013 1198, Dublin\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>