John B. Keane’s Pub

Born in nearby Church Street in 1928, John B. Keane is something of a literary legend in Ireland. This pub which he took over in 1955 is still ran by his widow Mary & son Billy,(he passed away in 2002), It’s almost a museum to the mans work, with posters of the countless stage productions & films, with many familiar actors, (The film of his play ‘The Field’ starring Richard Harris for one), but the best reflection of the man is that it’s a hugely warm & lively, honest to goodness locals pub. Indeed apparently many of the colourful characters that have drank here over the years were source material for John B, s prolific output of poems, plays & novels.
Much of the language in John B’s work is skillfully naturalistic, and lyrical & witty with it, the sort of things you might still hear a couple of Kerry guys discuss when sat at the bar.
«How would you know a Cork footballer? He’s the one who thinks oral sex is talking about it!»
I met Mary Keane, and she’s a lovely, generous lady. Elderly, with such an enigmatic presence. Indeed you can tell she rules the roost no problem as she breezes in silence back & forth from a her private quarters to the bar. Though of course I don’t know her well enough, but if you know John B’s play ‘Big Maggie’, about a tough recently widowed mother of 4, then you might draw some interesting comparisons!
With no prompting, she brought the small group I was with a large complementary plate of sandwiches to complement the excellently kept pints of Guinness, that were already going down a treat.
Look out for the statue of John B, as you turn left out the pub & head down to Main street.
NOTE: To find out more about John B. Keane’s work visit the nearby ‘Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre’, which I have reviewed separately.