The New Sheep’s Head Inn
Well, I must say that the good weather has livened up the whole population here and cast the Sheep’s Head and other Peninsulas in a new and happy light.
There – that’s about as literal as I get – or me missus for that matter. When she writes postcards, she doesn’t half go on. She starts off describing how she’s feeling, the state of her health and all that, and, before she realises it, she’s used up all the writing space on the postcard. Then it’s “oh dear!” and a big sigh, which tends to disturb me while I’m reading the paper.
But, as the man says, I digress (a favourite expression with people around these parts). Durrus, the gateway to the Sheep’s Head Peninsula, now has a new pub. I didn’t realise it until meself and the missus took a saunter into Durrus in me old Bentley (1965 – only bring her out on special occasions; the car, that is, not the wife, who’s a little but older but more reliable and better looking). I was admiring the sunny looking crowd on the left hand side what was sitting outside of The Longboat Bar when the wife suddenly says “Oh look! They’ve gone and painted Ivo’s all black.” Now, I remember Ivo’s from when I was first in the Bantry area many years ago (I won’t say how many because it scares me, quite frankly) and, if I’m not mistaken, it was my first pint of black stout in Ireland. What a clear and pleasant memory. Being served black beer by a Benelux bloke in West Cork! Anyways, I had heard that Ivo had left the building and had gotten into a whole different line of business altogether, so straight away I says: “That’s not Ivo’s place no more, love – not for a long while now.” I slowed down to a crawl (about the average speed of Durrus) and had a good look at the place. It was smart and clean and, to be fair to the missus, more black than white. “The Sheep’s Head Inn” is what they’ve called it. Owned by a local boy. He was there and all, pulling pints and chatting to us. We had to have a couple, didn’t we? I was on half-sized pints because I was, as usual, Mr. Designated Driver. I thought that the name was very appropriate because the Sheep’s Head is only recently (as far as an old Brit ex-pat like me can tell) being known and marketed about the place. So, it was only a matter of time before the term “Sheep’s Head” was used. They have a walk named after it and all.
Anyhow, needless to say, we once again got sucked into the light-hearted banter (I was getting a lot of good-natured stick on account of England getting knocked out of the World Cup the day before) and 2 small pints became about 10 large ones! We got a number for the local taxi, who turned out to be a lady who drove us home at a nice, leisurely pace. Sheep’s Head Inn and Sheep’s Head out!
Chester Harrington, 24 July 2006.
Harringtons – Estate Agents Bantry – 027 51553
Specialising in West Cork Property in Bantry, Glengarriff, Beara, Sheeps Head and surrounding areas
