Joe Watty's Pub & Seafood Bar

Just what the world needed - another quaint Irish pub claiming to serve the freshest seafood and perfectly-poured pints. Joe Watty's Pub & Seafood Bar in Cornamona had me rolling my eyes before I even crossed the threshold. The exterior screams "tourist trap" with its weathered facade and promise of "traditional Irish hospitality." Spare me.

But damn it all if this place didn't make me eat my words along with some of the best mussels I've had this side of the Atlantic. Trust me, no one is more surprised than I am to be writing this reluctant love letter to what I assumed would be yet another mediocre pub trading on Irish charm.

Let's address the elephant in the room - the location. Perched in Cornamona like some sort of siren calling to weary cyclists and ferry-fresh tourists, Joe Watty's could probably serve microwaved fish sticks and still turn a profit. But they don't. They actually care, and it shows in ways that are increasingly hard to dismiss with my usual cynicism.

The first crack in my armor came with the Guinness. I've had enough badly-poured pints in my life to spot a proper one, and whoever's behind the bar here knows their craft. The perfect dome, the cascade effect, the precise temperature - it's like watching a master class in liquid architecture. I hate that I'm impressed by something so basic, but there it is.

Then the seafood arrived. Fresh mussels that taste like they were plucked from the sea moments ago, not shipped in from some industrial seafood warehouse. The broth they're swimming in is good enough to drink straight from the bowl - which I may or may not have done when no one was looking. The seafood stew is another standout, packed with chunks of fish that actually taste like distinct species rather than generic "white fish."

The prices sit squarely in the "reasonable enough not to complain about" category, though you'll pay a bit more than mainland pubs. But considering they have to get everything shipped to the island, it feels fair. Plus, the portions are generous enough that you won't leave hungry, even if your wallet isn't completely emptied.

What really gets under my skin is how genuinely friendly the staff is. I tried my best to maintain my professional distance, but they wore me down with authentic warmth that never felt forced. Even during the busy rush when the place is packed with hungry cyclists and day-trippers, they manage to keep their cool and their smiles.

The live music sessions (when they have them) aren't the tourist-pandering nonsense I expected. Instead, you might catch local musicians playing with the kind of passion that makes you forget to look at your phone for hours. The atmosphere shifts from casual dining spot to proper Irish pub as the evening progresses, and somehow it works without feeling contrived.

Yes, the place can get crowded. Yes, you might have to wait for a table during peak times. And yes, sometimes the service can get a bit scattered when they're slammed. But these aren't so much complaints as they are signs of a place that's actually worth visiting.

For those who care about such things, they've got all the modern conveniences - they take cards, offer takeout, and even do that curbside pickup thing that became all the rage. There's outdoor seating for those rare sunny days, and the interior manages to be both cozy and spacious enough that you're not sitting in your neighbor's lap.

Look, I didn't want to like Joe Watty's Pub & Seafood Bar. I came to Cornamona ready to dismiss it as another tourist trap trading on Irish clichés. Instead, I found myself planning return visits and recommending it to friends - words that pain me slightly to write. If you're in Cornamona and need a reliable spot for quality seafood, properly poured pints, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to be both authentic and welcoming, you could do far worse. Just don't tell them I sent you. I have a reputation to maintain.