Johnson's Bar

Just what Kilrush needed - another pub with 'Bar' in its name. Johnson's Bar in Kilrush initially struck me as yet another formulaic Irish drinking establishment, complete with the requisite pool table and presumably sticky floors. But like a perfectly poured pint of Guinness settling into something unexpectedly sublime, this place has a way of winning you over.

Let's address the elephant in the room - Johnson's Bar isn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It's not serving artisanal cocktails with locally foraged herbs or boasting about its craft beer selection sourced from monasteries you've never heard of. And thank God for that.

What it does offer, much to my chagrin, is something increasingly rare: authenticity. The kind that can't be manufactured by interior designers or conjured up by marketing teams. The moment you step into Johnson's Bar Kilrush, you're hit with the realization that this is a pub that actually remembers what pubs are supposed to be about.

The Guinness? Irritatingly perfect. I wanted to find fault with it, truly I did. But watching the landlady pour a pint is like witnessing a small performance piece - one that's been refined through years of practice rather than a weekend course in "traditional Irish hospitality." The fact that they're charging prices that won't require a second mortgage is just showing off, really.

And then there's the atmosphere. In an age where most bars feel the need to assault your eardrums with whatever's trending on TikTok, Johnson's has mastered the art of creating genuine craic. The locals, who I fully expected to side-eye any newcomer with the suspicion usually reserved for tax inspectors, somehow manage to make you feel like you've been coming here for years.

The pool table isn't just furniture - it's a social hub. And while I generally consider pool tables in pubs to be about as necessary as a submarine with a screen door, here it works. It creates those natural interactions that marketing executives spend millions trying to fabricate in their "concept bars."

Live music, when it happens, isn't the usual torture of an amateur guitarist murdering "Wonderwall." Instead, you might catch traditional sessions that remind you why Irish pubs became famous in the first place. Though I'm loathe to admit it, I've found myself tapping my foot more than once.

The bar staff deserve special mention, if only because they've managed to perfect that delicate balance between friendly and efficient that seems to elude most modern establishments. They remember your drink, engage in conversation when appropriate, and somehow know exactly when to leave you to your own devices.

For those concerned about practicalities, yes, there's a restroom (and it's actually maintained), and the parking situation won't drive you to drink before you've even started - free street parking is available, a small mercy in today's world. They've even managed to drag themselves into the 21st century by accepting cards, though something feels inherently wrong about paying for a pint with contactless.

Sports fans will find themselves well-served here, though mercifully without the overwhelming presence of screens that makes some pubs feel like NASA's control room. It's possible to watch a match without feeling like you're in a sports bar that's trying too hard to be all things to all people.

Look, I didn't want to like Johnson's Bar. In Kilrush's landscape of drinking establishments, I was ready to dismiss it as just another watering hole. But like that friend who initially seems boring but ends up being the one you call first in a crisis, it's earned its place. Whether you're a local, a tourist, or a cynical reviewer who's seen too many pubs try too hard, you'll find something here that works.

Go for the Guinness, stay for the conversation, and resign yourself to the fact that you'll probably end up becoming a regular. Johnson's Bar Kilrush isn't just a pub - it's a reminder of why we started going to pubs in the first place. And yes, I hate myself a little for loving it as much as I do.