The Banshees of Inisherin set made into a permanent pub

The set of JJ Devine’s Public House from Martin McDonagh’s critically-acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin has been relocated, rebuilt and opened as a pub in Galway.

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved

The film, which was released last year and garnered numerous plaudits, including nine nominations at the Academy Awards, also marked the long-awaited reunion of McDonagh with actors Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson after 2008’s black comedy In Bruges.

JJ Devine’s is where much of the drama concerning the sudden animosity of Colm (Gleeson) towards Pádraic (Farrell) plays out. The set for the traditional Irish watering hole was constructed on Achill Island, County Mayo, where much of the film was shot.

After shooting concluded, the set was dismantled, but publican Luke Mee, who runs Mee’s Bar in Galway, didn’t want the structure to go to waste, as RTÉ reported: “I’d heard the set was dismantled and the parts were lying in a yard in Achill for months with nobody showing any interest…All the structural parts were in good condition, so I took them back to the yard at the back of Mee’s Bar here in Kilkerrin in Galway and set about returning the iconic pub to its former glory.”

The pub was moved some 180 kilometres to its new home in Galway.

“Everything, down to the windowpanes, was meticulously rebuilt with the help of family, friends and neighbours. Hours upon hours went into this project which now stands on the site of our bar in Kilkerrin,” added Mee.


In tribute to Pádraic’s pet Jenny, a donkey was also present at the reopening.

The set of JJ Devine’s also sparked debate after a sign with the word ‘whisky’ appeared in the film, rather than the usual Irish spelling ‘whiskey’ – however, far from an error, the sign is actually a nod to a historical quirk concerning the naming of the spirit.

This article was originally published by the drinks business and has been shared with permission.

Leave your reply

Most Recent Stories

Meet The Maker: Derek Sandhaus, Ming River Baijiu

With a mission to “Bring baijiu from China to the world”, Ming River is crafted at Luzhou Laojiao in Sichuan province. Douglas Blyde talks to one of its creators about the “vast, and vastly rewarding category” that is baijiu.

Galvin at Windows to close

Mayfair establishment Galvin at Windows, which is located on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane, is to close after 18 years of business.

WLC Eats: Yong Yi Ting, Mandarin Oriental

Douglas Blyde walks through a forest of 70,000 mosaic tiles to the recently reopened Yong Yi Ting restaurant in Shanghai, where he experiences a "Negroni-scented" tea and "the best red wine in China".

Fell Brewery releases courgette beer with celeb chef Simon Rogan

The second collaboration between the two Lake District brands is a gose beer fermented in courgette juice.

Sushisamba opens new cocktail bar in London

The company behind Sushisamba has opened a new cocktail bar in London within the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate called Samba Room.

Most Recent Stories

Meet The Maker: Derek Sandhaus, Ming River Baijiu

With a mission to “Bring baijiu from China to the world”, Ming River is crafted at Luzhou Laojiao in Sichuan province. Douglas Blyde talks to one of its creators about the “vast, and vastly rewarding category” that is baijiu.

Galvin at Windows to close

Mayfair establishment Galvin at Windows, which is located on the 28th floor of the Hilton on Park Lane, is to close after 18 years of business.

WLC Eats: Yong Yi Ting, Mandarin Oriental

Douglas Blyde walks through a forest of 70,000 mosaic tiles to the recently reopened Yong Yi Ting restaurant in Shanghai, where he experiences a "Negroni-scented" tea and "the best red wine in China".

Fell Brewery releases courgette beer with celeb chef Simon Rogan

The second collaboration between the two Lake District brands is a gose beer fermented in courgette juice.

Sushisamba opens new cocktail bar in London

The company behind Sushisamba has opened a new cocktail bar in London within the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate called Samba Room.