Significantly further along the Strawberry Beds, and just beyond the Westlink bridges, we find the Strawberry Hall. Streetview doesn't give justice to just how much the M50 looms overhead, nor can it express the rumble from traffic, but it at least gives some impression. Coincidentally, the interior of the pub at Christmas is also on Streetview.
Despite the hulking reminder that you aren't that from from urbanity, the pub itself is about as rural as you're going to get this near the city. Traditional, and almost certainly genuinely old interior decor, stained glass windows and a old-world drinks lineup - including Beamish and Macardles add to this.
Like the previous pub, there's a sizeable carpark here, however the crowd inside could not all fit in the vehicles outside - it is clear that the locals in this area come here in decent numbers. At half time in the lamentably bad Ireland - England rugby fixture, trays of sandwiches were brought around to all customers, in a sign of customer service that is also reflected in their bus service
Isolated pubs have been severely hit by drink driving regulations - but these were of course needed. The Strawberry Hall does a pick up and drop off service, by advance appointment, to the surrounding areas, reaching from Lucan to Ashtown to Blanchardstown. Going from their Facebook page, this seems to bring in new drinkers who would not otherwise have been likely to pay for a taxi to visit - and requires them to give a warning of their lack of a card reader at the bar!
I was driven here by an obliging non drinker (well, for that afternoon at least) as has been the case with other drivers for some other distant pubs, but the bus times would have made it possible to get a 66 to and from Lucan to connect had I wanted to. In what may be another concession to designated drivers, we noted that soft drinks are sold in 500ml plastic bottles, not 200ml glass pub bottles - and for effectively the same price as elsewhere.
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