-
-
Author: Denise McNamara
~ 2 minutes read
A farmer and publican in southeast Galway has turned his country pub into a live music venue for leading artists in order to survive.
So far, Paul Noonan of Bell X1, Sean Keane, Eleanor Shanley and Mike Hanrahan from Stockton’s Wing have taken to the stage at the Cornerstone Bar in Gurteeny in sold out gigs that have brought a new vibrancy to the small community.
Garry Gorman, who has run the watering hole between Woodford and Portumna for the past 25 years, makes no apologies when he insists a pub is absolutely critical to the life of their village.
But skyrocketing running costs and fewer patrons mean it’s getting harder to justify keeping it open.
After being locked down during Covid, he reopened the pub but scaled back to four evenings a week. The adjoining shop which his mother Breda managed remained shut. The other village pub is also closed.
Garry used the time to renovate the inside of the pub and created an intimate room which could be used for gigs seating up to 80. Availing of the Government support scheme to help artists return to the live music scene, he staged concerts for the first time in the pub’s history.
And they were so successful he hopes to keep going without the State subsidy, even if it means he just breaks even.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see this week’s Connacht Tribune. You can support our journalism by buying a digital edition HERE.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune:
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
More like this:
Ann still going strong in charity kitchens at 85 years of age!
From this week's Galway City Tribune - After working her entire life on a farm and raising a fami...
Liam Carroll shafted by FG HQ in Galway County Council race
Bradley Bytes - a sort of political column with Dara Bradley What is going on in Fine Gael? No...
Schools’ anger over Government ultimatum on uprooting Ukrainian pupils
From this week's Galway City Tribune - Ukrainian families who integrated into the community on Ga...
An Bord Pleanála overrules safety concerns of its own senior inspector
From this week's Galway City Tribune - An Bord Pleanála has ignored the concerns of one of its ow...
United face busy weekend with ties against Derry City and Bohemians
IT’S possibly not an appropriate quip to make, given the nature of the film in question, and the ...
Clifden extends invite to annual Trad Fest
Riverdance composer Bill Whelan will officially open the 13th Annual Clifden Traditional Music Fe...
Bands joining forces for Ballinasloe show
The Reeths-Puffer High School Band from Michigan, USA, will be performing a free concert with the...
KATS get in the spirit with revival of Drinking Habits
Galway City’s award-winning theatre company, KATS, is reviving its lauded production of Tom Smith...
Connacht ripped to shreds by hungry Lions in mauling
Connacht 14 Lions 38 JOHN FALLON AT DEXCOM STADIUM IRISH winger Mack Hansen said he was ...