The Irish Pub Guide

Taylor Swift’s dreams have come true as she, and everyone else, can now have a pint in the pub from The Banshees of Inisherin movie – or a very close replica at least.

The pub in the blockbuster success film was assembled for shooting and taken down shortly after meaning until this month, drinking in JJ Devine’s was impossible.

Galway publican, Luke Mee of Mee’s Bar in Kilkerrin, Co Galway, retrieved the original set and spent many arduous hours with friends, family and neighbours to rebuild it to its former glory.

The structure is entirely the original, down to the glass panes that featured significantly in the movie, with Padraic (played by Colin Farrell) staring morosely out the window at his former best-friend-turned-foe, Colm (played by Brendan Gleeson).

The bar owner said: “A few months had gone by since the filming finished and I heard the set had been taken down and was in a yard in Achill, but in very good condition. I waited for a period of time to see if anyone else showed any interest before taking it to Kilkerrin. 

“I had the space to put it out the back of Mee’s Bar and that I would be able to restore it and preserve it, so I brought it here.”

There have been some famous admirers of JJ Devine’s Public House with international superstar, Taylor Swift, saying in Vanity Fair’s ‘Directors on Directors’ programme that the beautiful structure looked like it had been a part of the landscape for centuries and that she would come and visit if it was ever rebuilt, and Mee has confirmed there is an open invitation for the singer to come and enjoy her time in JJ Devine’s.

He added: “She would be very welcome to come to see the pub and enjoy herself and enjoy JJ Devine’s first free pint.”

But the pub is open to everyone, not just Taylor Swift, since early June and is expecting to draw big crowds.

How can I find it?

There are two villages named Kilkerrin in County Galway the new JJ Devine’s Public House is located in north east Galway, close to the border of Roscommon.

JJ Devine’s Public House is a standalone pub on the site of Mee’s Bar, Kilkerrin.