IN 1887 whiskey historian Alfred Barnard visited the Thomondgate distillery in Limerick as part of his tour of all the distilleries in the Britain and Ireland. Amongst his many observations, he remarked that the manager’s house had the best view of any house in Ireland, with its views of the broad majestic Shannon with King John’s Castle in the background.
Unfortunately, the distillery is no longer with us today, but the view still exists as seen from the back of JJ Bowles pub.
More recently, Daragh Curran – aka The Guinness Guru – visited JJ Bowles on his quest to find the most picturesque pub in Ireland. He was not disappointed, saying it had possibly the best view of any pub in Ireland.
The pub’s owner, Aengus D’Arcy, said “JJ Bowles is the oldest pub in Limerick, and my great grandfather Joseph Bowles actually worked in the distillery as a cooper up until it closed in the 1910s. He then bought the pub with his son JJ, and we have been welcoming customers ever since.”
“We’ve recently transformed the River Terrace and customers are always amazed at the breathtaking views of the river and the castle. While sitting by the fire enjoying a drink, many are pleasantly surprised to discover our stunning beer garden – a hidden gem they didn’t anticipate when coming into the pub.”
