Peddler Mac's Bar & Beer Garden

Just what Athlone needed - another pub with a beer garden. When I first heard about Peddler Mac's Bar & Beer Garden, I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly sprained something. Because obviously, what this charming Irish town was desperately missing was yet another establishment where you can drink Guinness under the occasionally cooperative Irish sky.

But damn it all if this place hasn't wormed its way into my reluctantly softening heart. Maybe it was the live music that doesn't make me want to stuff napkins in my ears (a rarity in pub entertainment, let me tell you). Or perhaps it's the beer garden that somehow manages to be both spacious and intimate - a architectural feat that deserves more recognition than it gets in Athlone's competitive pub scene.

Let's talk about that beer garden, shall we? While most outdoor spaces in Irish pubs feel like someone's half-hearted attempt to comply with smoking regulations, Peddler Mac's has created something that actually makes you want to brave the elements. It's almost offensive how well they've done it. The space flows naturally from the interior, making it feel less like exile when you're sent outside with the smokers and more like you've discovered a secret garden. That is, if secret gardens came with perfectly poured pints and the constant possibility of live music.

Speaking of drinks - and we must speak of drinks, this being a proper Irish pub - the bar staff actually know what they're doing. I know, I was shocked too. The tall fellow with the beard and glasses (who I'm told is some sort of cocktail wizard) creates concoctions that would be at home in any pretentious Dublin establishment, but without the accompanying attitude that makes you want to dump said cocktail over their head.

Now, about the pizza. Yes, pizza in an Irish pub. I was skeptical too - actually, skeptical doesn't quite cover it. I was downright judgmental. But here's the thing: it works. It's not trying to be some wood-fired Neapolitan masterpiece that would make an Italian grandmother weep. It's good, honest pub pizza that somehow tastes even better after your second pint. And isn't that exactly what you want in a place like this?

The atmosphere strikes that elusive balance between lively and overwhelming. During sports events, it's packed but not suffocatingly so - you can actually see the screens without developing an intimate relationship with a stranger's armpit. The music nights (which happen more often than not) manage to create an energy that makes you want to stay "just one more song" until you suddenly realize it's way past midnight and you have work tomorrow.

Fair warning: the service can be... let's call it selective. Sometimes getting a drink requires the kind of patience usually reserved for waiting for summer in Ireland. But when you do catch the attention of Sean or the aforementioned cocktail wizard, you're in good hands. And really, isn't the occasional wait just part of the authentic Irish pub experience? (That's what I tell myself, anyway.)

Price-wise, it sits comfortably in that sweet spot where you can have a proper night out without having to sell a kidney. The drinks are standard pub prices for Athlone, and the pizza won't bankrupt you - though you might find yourself ordering more than you planned after a few pints.

Located in the heart of Athlone, Peddler Mac's has become something of an institution, much to my chagrin. I say chagrin because I initially wanted to dismiss it as just another pub, but it's proven itself to be more than that. It's the kind of place where you can start your evening planning to have one quick drink and end up staying for hours, making friends with locals and tourists alike.

Look, I don't want to like Peddler Mac's Bar & Beer Garden as much as I do. It would be so much easier to maintain my cynical critic's persona if it were just another mediocre pub. But here I am, recommending you give it a try, especially on music nights. Just don't blame me if you end up making it your regular spot in Athlone. I certainly won't admit how often I find myself there, nursing a perfect pint and pretending I'm not enjoying myself immensely.