Massachusetts Finds a Charming Home in Ireland’s Oldest Pub

The oldest bar in Ireland, and perhaps the world, has a lot of love for Massachusetts.

When you visit Sean's Bar in the ancient town of Athlone, you'll first notice the low ceiling and the slanted, sawdust-covered floor. You'll admire the stately fireplace and the cozy atmosphere. You'll be greeted like a regular by friendly staff, including cheery owner Timmy Donovan, who might sit with you and share his wealth of knowledge.

Then, as you settle in, your eyes will land on the walls lined with American license plates. It won't take long to find one from Massachusetts. There it is, in the corner, where revelers have presumably gathered for close to 1,000 years.

Get our free mobile app

It's jarring at first to see something so local prominently displayed in a place 3,000 miles from home. Yet, there it is, the white background, the red letters and numbers, "The Spirit of America" proudly printed in blue at the bottom. The plate was signed in black marker by "Julie," likely a Massachusetts vacationer who brought it with her to Ireland as a gift for the pub.

Julie is in good company. Lured in by the age of the pub, certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest in Ireland, many thousands of people from around the world stream into Sean's every year for a pint, good craic and an escape from the 21st century.

READ MORE: New Bedford Is Always Celebrated in This Small Town in Ireland 

It turns out many from Massachusetts have left their marks. Inside a warmly lit case on the wall just off the slanted floor, you'll see police and fire department patches from familiar communities, including Medford, Holyoke and Boston. There's a patch for Massachusetts State Police, another for the Massachusetts Port Authority.

There's love for Rhode Island, too. An Ocean State license plate is on the wall at the back of the bar and a Providence Police patch is easy to spot. One patch representing Hartford, Connecticut, is nearby.

New England loves Sean's Bar and Sean's seems to love New England right back.

A pub has stood at this site in the middle of the country, halfway between Dublin and Galway, since around 900 AD. It wasn't always called Sean's -- that name came fairly recently, in the 20th century.

"During renovations in 1970, the walls of the bar were found to be made of 'wattle and wicker' dating back to the ninth century," the pub notes on its website. "Old coins, which were minted by various landlords for barter with their customers, were also found."

One section of those original walls remains on display at Sean's, which notes research is still being done to determine if it's the oldest pub in the world.

Whether it is or it isn't the oldest on the planet, there's no question that it's old, very old, older than anything we have in the United States. It's nice to know that even in something so far away, and so truly ancient, we can feel right at home.