Brennan's Criterion Bar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brennan's Criterion Bar |
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|---|---|
| Type | Irish pub |
| Location | Bundoran |
| Built | Before 1900 |
| Original use | Guesthouse |
| Owner | James Ward (1900–19??) James Brennan (1932?–1981) Nan Brennan (1981–2017) Patricia Brennan (1981–2018) |
Brennan's Criterion Bar was a famous Irish pub located in Bundoran, County Donegal, Ireland.
Contents
A Look Back at Brennan's Criterion Bar
How It Started
Brennan's Criterion Bar first opened its doors on Saint Patrick's Day in 1900. It was started by James and Catherine Ward. They bought an old guesthouse and turned it into a pub.
Family Business
In 1933, the Wards' daughter, Mary, married James Brennan. James then took over running the pub. He worked there until 1981. After him, his two daughters, Nan and Patricia, became the new owners. Nan managed the bar, and Patricia often did the cooking.
A Pub Without Modern Gadgets
What made Brennan's special was that it stayed very traditional. It didn't have a TV, internet, or even live music. They also had a strict rule: no swearing was allowed!
A famous musician named Phil Coulter once tried to sing there. But even he wasn't allowed to perform. This shows how much they wanted to keep the pub quiet and simple.
Getting Noticed
In 2013, Brennan's was featured in a TV show called The Irish Pub. In 2015, a website named TheJournal.ie listed it as one of Ireland's best pubs. They said it was a peaceful place to relax.
In 2016, a reporter from The Boston Globe wrote an article about the pub. The next year, in 2017, Nan and Patricia even appeared in a TV ad for Guinness.
The End of an Era
Nan Brennan passed away in 2017. After her sister's death, Patricia decided to close the pub. Brennan's Criterion Bar served its last customers on Sunday, September 30, 2018. It was a sad day for many who loved its unique, old-fashioned charm.
