MacCarthy's Bar

MacCarthy's Bar is a historic grocery shop and public house on the market square in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland. The business began in 1860 when Michael McCarthy established himself as a general merchant. Its first activity was grocery trading, but the premises developed in response to the commercial life of the harbour and the nearby Royal Navy base. McCarthy traded commodities such as coal and salt, salted locally purchased fish for visiting vessels, and supplied goods according to local and maritime demand. The shop eventually added the sale of beer, wine and spirits, becoming one of the town's early licensed premises. The business remained in the McCarthy family. Michael's youngest son, Denis Florence McCarthy, known as D. F. McCarthy, stayed in Castletownbere and expanded the family operation. Between 1907 and 1911, he had the premises refurbished by craftsmen who were working on a nearby church. The refurbishment included tiled flooring, new shelving and a mosaic inscription associated with D. F. McCarthy. During this period the establishment was still generally known as McCarthy's Bar. To distinguish his family from another local family with the same name, D. F. adopted the spelling MacCarthy, which later became associated with the business. The building also became a family residence. D. F. moved his household into the living quarters above the premises, and his son Aidan MacCarthy was born there in 1913. Trading benefited during the First World War from increased activity involving American employers, and an additional storey was added to the building. Aidan later became an Air Commodore and the premises remained connected to his family. In 1979, Aidan's daughter Adrienne MacCarthy moved from Cork and took responsibility for the bar after the death of an uncle threatened its continuation. What began as a temporary intervention became a long-term custodianship. The business retained its unusual dual identity: the front remained a grocery shop while the rear operated as a bar. This combination, unusual in contemporary Ireland, became central to its character and appeal. The establishment received international attention in 2000 when it appeared in Pete McCarthy's bestselling travel book McCarthy's Bar and on the book's cover. The author's account of a visit to Castletownbere presented the premises as both a grocer's shop and a drinking place. The cover image used the MacCarthy spelling associated with the book's author and included a staged image of a staff member dressed as a nun with a pint of Guinness; the owner's dog was also captured in the image. The publicity turned the family business into a tourist destination while reinforcing its existing local identity. MacCarthy's continues to combine grocery retailing, drinks service and food service. Its shelves carry ordinary household and grocery products, while the bar serves beer, wine and spirits. Food is offered during daytime hours, and live music forms part of the visitor experience. The business is operated by members of the MacCarthy family, including Adrienne and Niki MacCarthy. It also displays the ceremonial sword presented to Aidan MacCarthy by the Japanese officer Isao Kusuno during the Second World War. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the premises remained closed for the longest period in its history. The establishment is nevertheless described as an active family-run bar and grocery business and remains one of Castletownbere's best-known visitor attractions.

MacCarthy's Bar began as a grocery and general-merchandise business founded by Michael McCarthy in Castletownbere in 1860. Its location beside the harbour allowed it to serve local residents, visiting vessels and the nearby Royal Navy base. Michael traded a broad range of goods, including coal and salt, and salted locally sourced fish for ships. As the business developed, it added beer, wine and spirits and became one of the first licensed premises in the town. Michael's youngest son, Denis Florence McCarthy, remained in the area and continued the family business. He became locally prominent and, after marrying Julia in 1904, raised a large family above the premises. Between 1907 and 1911, craftsmen employed on the construction of a nearby church refurbished the bar. Their work included tiled floors, a mosaic inscription and replacement shelving. The establishment was still generally styled McCarthy's Bar at the time. D. F. later adopted the MacCarthy spelling to distinguish his family from a neighbouring family with the same surname. The premises also served as the family home. D. F.'s son Aidan MacCarthy was born there in 1913 and later became an Air Commodore. During the First World War, the business benefited from expanded trade connected with American employers, and the building gained an additional storey. The premises therefore functioned simultaneously as a family residence, grocery store and licensed bar. A later succession crisis brought Adrienne MacCarthy back to the business. In 1979, after the death of an uncle, she left her nursing career and moved from Cork to prevent the bar from closing. Her temporary role became permanent, preserving the business as a family-run operation. Under this arrangement the front of the premises continued to sell groceries while the back operated as a bar, an arrangement that remains its defining feature. The business became much better known outside County Cork after its inclusion in Pete McCarthy's travel book McCarthy's Bar, published in 2000. One chapter described the author's visit, and the establishment appeared on the cover. The cover used the spelling MacCarthy and included a staged image involving a staff member in a nun's costume, a pint of Guinness and the owner's dog. The book's success brought visitors to the premises and transformed it into a recognised literary and tourism landmark. In the twenty-first century, the business has continued to operate as a combined bar, grocery shop and visitor attraction. Adrienne and Niki MacCarthy are associated with its operation. The premises sells drinks and groceries, serves food during the day and hosts live music. It also preserves family and local history, including a ceremonial sword presented to Aidan MacCarthy by Isao Kusuno, a Japanese officer during the Second World War. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented interruption in 2020, when the premises stayed closed for the longest period in its history.

• 2020

  Pandemic closure

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  COVID-19 restrictions led to the longest closure in the establishment's history.

• 2000

  The pub appears in Pete McCarthy's book

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  MacCarthy's Bar is featured in and appears on the cover of Pete McCarthy's bestselling travel book, bringing substantial tourist attention.

• 1979

  Adrienne MacCarthy takes over operations

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  Adrienne MacCarthy returns to the area and assumes responsibility for the business after the death of an uncle threatened its closure.

• 1913

  Aidan MacCarthy is born above the bar

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  Aidan MacCarthy, later an Air Commodore, is born in the family living quarters above the premises.

• 1907

  Refurbishment of the premises begins

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  Craftsmen working on a nearby church refurbish the bar with tiled flooring, shelving and decorative work; the work continued through 1911.

• 1860

  Michael McCarthy establishes the business

  [1]MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org

  Michael McCarthy begins trading as a general merchant and grocery proprietor in Castletownbere.

A heritage Irish pub and grocery shop whose distinctive appeal comes from its preserved family ownership, dual retail-and-bar format, historic premises and association with Pete McCarthy's 2000 travel book.

• Beverages

  Bar drinks

  The licensed bar serves traditional pub beverages, including beer, wine and spirits. Its drinks service is integrated into the historic rear bar rather than operated as a separate modern brand format.

• Grocery retail · 1860

  Groceries

  The front portion of the premises continues the original grocery function. Reported stock includes dairy products such as milk, eggs, cheese and butter, along with packaged goods including beans, canned meat, ketchup and chickpeas.

• Food service

  Daytime food service

  Food is served during daytime hours, complementing the grocery shop and pub. The documented service window is approximately 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; a detailed menu is not specified in the available reference material.

• 2000Pete McCarthy's Bar literary exposure

  Ireland · United Kingdom · International tourism market

  The business was featured in Pete McCarthy's bestselling travel book and selected for the cover. Although not a conventional advertising campaign, the book functioned as major earned exposure for the premises.

  Outcome. MacCarthy's became widely recognised as a tourist attraction and literary landmark.

  Source

• 2020

  Pandemic closureOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic and associated public-health restrictions affected hospitality businesses in Ireland.

  Action taken

  MacCarthy's Bar closed during the pandemic.

  Aftermath

  The closure lasted longer than any previous interruption in the establishment's history.

  Source

• 1979

  Family-led continuation of the barStrategy

  Background

  The death of an uncle placed the continued operation of the business at risk.

  Action taken

  Adrienne MacCarthy left her nursing career and took over the premises, initially as a temporary measure.

  Aftermath

  She remained involved permanently and preserved the family-run bar and grocery format.

  Source

• 1860

  Expansion from grocery trading into maritime supplyStrategy

  Background

  The original general-merchandise business operated near Castletownbere harbour and the nearby Royal Navy base.

  Action taken

  Michael McCarthy expanded into supplying ships, trading commodities such as coal and salt and salting locally purchased fish.

  Aftermath

  The business developed a broad commercial base before later adding licensed alcohol sales.

  Source

1. 1MacCarthy's Baren.wikipedia.org