Gertie Brownes

Situated in the centre of Athlone, just a minute or two’s walk from the bank of the River Shannon, when you walk through the doors of Gertie Browne’s, you immediately get a sense that you are welcome there. That’s not surprising as from as early as the 10th or 11th centuries, Gertie Browne’s has been a hostelry of some sort. The pub itself dates back over 1,000 years, initially acting as a resting point for those travelling west while also providing them with a place to house their horse-drawn carriages for the night.

Nowadays, you’ll more often than not find a mixture of Athlonians perched at the old world style bar enjoying a drink or a bite to eat in it’s comfortable and familiar surroundings while exchanging some of the local gossip with the friendly staff behind the bar. As you make your way through the deceptively long tavern, you’ll also notice the curious tourists who have wandered in to study and admire the bric-a-brac that decorates the walls of the building from top to bottom as well as to try a pint of, what is rumoured to be, some of the best Guinness in Athlone. Open seven days a week the menu at Gertie Browne’s features a mixture of old school pub grub classics.