Sometimes a pubs reputation precedes, often negatively, sometimes positively. In the case of O'Loughlins, there are huge amounts of vaguely accurate references to it whenever old fashioned/traditional pubs get discussed, with claims of various levels of truth being made.
Two recurrent ones come up about O'Loughlins, amongst huge amounts of one-off claims. One can be dismissed as impossible - that it hasn't got water. The HSE would have it closed down years ago if this was the case. The second one is that is has no till. This is factually incorrect, but as the till is a Victorian ornament and its always open cash drawer is used only occasionally used, the result is much the same.
The pub is nearly invisible online - beyond the aforementioned semi-factual posts and entries on a few pub listing sites there is basically nothing else . The bulk of the results are actually for McLoughlins, a completely different pub nearby. But it very much exists and has a regular customer base, greeted by name by the barman. I was all but instructed to take the seat at the bar of a departing customer (by said customer) when I walked in, and had two of the cheaper pints - and a bag of crisps - that you're likely to find. There's a proper sense of community with the regulars and the staff; and notices up for various events including a charity BBQ night (In December. In Ireland!)
The pub has 7 taps, all Diageo except Heineken. There is a small selection of spirits and liquers, many of them with dust coating the bottles from how rarely they are used. There are a few under-counter fridges of mixers and bottled cider and beers including, amazingly, a small amount of Irish craft. Cash is left strewn around the shelves in a manner which clearly has some logic to the barman, but none to the observer. The overall feel is of a small town pub in the West, not one on the main street of a busy suburb.
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