![\"Staff](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5235301_2_articleinline_DSC04402.jpeg\" "\\"Staff")
Staff at Geary\u2019s Bar, from left, Michelle O\u2019Halloran, Head Chef, Luke Sexton, bartender, Rebecca O\u2019Connell, Bar Manager, and Niamh Gammell, bartender.Picture: Noel Sweeney<\/p>\nIt\u2019s funny how history repeats itself. In the garden of Geary\u2019s Bar in Charleville, where Claude Gough and his sister Corina sported and played as children, Claude\u2019s own children are now enjoying playing in the same sunny spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorina and I are the fifth generation running the pub,\u201d says Claude, who is still beaming after Geary\u2019s in the town\u2019s Main Street was judged the best bar in Munster in this years\u2019 Bar of the Year Awards.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning the award meant a lot to us and to our community,\u201d adds Claude, who began his career as a publican here collecting glasses and stocking shelves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got used to the trade from a very young age,\u201d adds Claude. He breaks off to ask his son, Iarlaith: \u201cWhat do you always carry with you when you\u2019re in here in here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA notebook,\u201d Iarlaith replies. \u201cAnd I put a pencil in my hair.<\/p>\n
Why so?<\/p>\n
\u201cIn case somebody wants to order something,\u201d says the young man.<\/p>\n
His sister, Lil\u00eddh, is still a bit young to be part of the long line of family members who always did good business on Main Street.<\/p>\n
\u201cCorina and I took the pub over from our mother, Mary,\u201d says Claude, who has been behind the bar for 35 years. Mary handed down all the skills she had perfected for Geary\u2019s to continue to mark its place in the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe learned so much from mam,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe local characters who frequented the pub were always the life-force of the place. Not much has changed over the years.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cOur family lived here in this two-storey building, where there was a kitchen and a sitting room adjoining the bar. We could always hear the buzz and conversation of the customers from our bedrooms upstairs.\n <\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years we added on and developed the business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geary\u2019s Bar has a long history.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been at the heart of Charleville for over 250 years,\u201d says Claude. \u201cServing not just as a pub, but as a true meeting place for the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n
How did it achieve that status?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that a great local pub is built on atmosphere, familiarity, consistency, and connection. To this day, that is what we deliver,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
Young and old mix together in the pub and chat away together.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe licence was obtained in 1790. Being part of such a long lineage is a privilege, and it is very rewarding,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
He and Corina enjoy repeat custom.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople living abroad and who come home to Charleville to visit family always come in here to meet up,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamilies come in to celebrate happy occasions, like birthdays, christenings, graduations. It is all about connection with people and caring for people.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike all communities, we\u2019ve lost some good people in recent times who were part of the family in good times and in bad times.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matches bring many good times to the pub.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Geary\u2019s Bar, the match is more than simply showing sport on television,\u201d says Claude. \u201cIt is about creating an atmosphere, an occasion, and a shared experience that brings people together.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the build-up before kick-off to the conversations long after the final whistle, our pub becomes a vibrant social hub where customers fully immerse themselves in the excitement of live sport.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cWe had members of the Munster rugby team in here at Christmas. They stayed a good hour. We never expected them.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
Claude was in his element then.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a hurling man and a big rugby man,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were extremely busy one night when a Premier League match was on TV,\u201d says Claude. \u201cThe man changing the kegs seemed to be gone a long time. He was gone unnoticed for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Until?<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil I discovered that he had fainted!\u201d<\/p>\n
He came to in good spirits.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all had a great laugh about the incident when we knew all was well,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
The Coronas played a set in Geary\u2019s Bar and Nathan Carter had a few pints here on his way to a gig.<\/p>\n
\u201cNathan was here six or seven weeks ago,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
Staff at Geary\u2019s Bar, from left, Michelle O\u2019Halloran, Head Chef, Luke Sexton, bartender, Rebecca O\u2019Connell, Bar Manager, and Niamh Gammell, bartender.Picture: Noel Sweeney<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had Michael D. in here too. He was very interested in the history of the pub going back the years.\u201d<\/p>\n
What did the Gough clan and their customers think of Dublin rock band, The Coronas?<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were amazing,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
You can make yourself at home in Geary\u2019s Bar.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when Nathan was here, he went behind the bar and filled his own pint!\u201d<\/p>\n
The team of 22 staff who work in Geary\u2019s were gobsmacked. \u201cNathan was the business!\u201d says Niamh Gammell, who is serving customers with their lunch chosen from an extensive all-day menu.<\/p>\n
Niamh will be missed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe did really well in her Leaving Cert exams,\u201d says Claude. \u201cNext month she\u2019s off to teacher training college.\u201d<\/p>\n
Did Nathan Carter view the outside stage for future reference when he popped in?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was well impressed!\u201d says Claude. \u201cHere we have live music, quizzes, community gatherings, match preview nights, and entertainment events throughout the year. Our bond with local musicians is fantastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
What did covid mean to Geary\u2019s Bar?<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of cleaning!\u201d says Claude laughing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd a lot of soul-searching, thinking about business going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claude and Corina are in it together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very lucky to have each other,\u201d says Claude. \u201cAnd Corina\u2019s kids are good to help out when needed.<\/p>\n
![\"Claude](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/5235304_2_articleinline_DSC09670.jpeg\" "\\"Claude")
Claude Gough with his family, Liadh, Iarlaith, and Lilly in Geary\u2019s on Main Street, Charleville.\tPicture: Noel Sweeney<\/p>\n
The siblings have a good way of working together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe delegate!\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
Do they have their differences?<\/p>\n
\u201cCorina and I have great rows!\u201d laughs Claude. \u201cWe can be like cats and dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, you see, we both love the business and we always do what is best for the pub and the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Do they quibble about the long hours involved in the pub business?<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know, I am a glass half-full person,\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pub almost becomes your identity. On the Main Street we know every second door. The locals are our backbone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always look out for our older customers in case they are in trouble.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we keep an eye on anyone who may be causing trouble!\u201d<\/p>\n
The North Cork town isn\u2019t too far from Limerick and I recall the last time I passed by Geary\u2019s, the Limerick flag was flying high alongside the Cork flag.<\/p>\n
Where is it today?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to take it down for the time being,\u201d says Claude diplomatically.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cThe Cork-Limerick rivalry is unique. They are both superpowers. The banter and cr\u00e1ic in the pub between the two counties is always up to 90, as you can imagine.\n <\/p>\n
\u201cBeing so near Limerick, we get a lot of Limerick GAA people in here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pat Moloney, having a pint at the bar, is a Limerick man.<\/p>\n
But he has red and white ties to the Rebel County too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in the army,\u201d says Pat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worked in Collins\u2019 Barracks. Cork is great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claude proudly shows me around the premises and tells me all about each part. But he is a busy man. He is getting married next month!<\/p>\n
What about the stag party?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it might be rugby-related!\u201d says Claude.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s funny how history repeats itself. In the garden of Geary\u2019s Bar in Charleville, where Claude Gough and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":632332,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[169823,93,61,60],"class_list":["post-632331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-echo-instagram","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=632331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/632331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/632332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=632331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=632331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=632331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}