High Street pub pulling pints for 100 years

Remembering old times, brothers Tadhg (left), Rory and Matthew, pictured outside their family bar O’Connor’s on High Street which is celebrating 100 year in business.
Picture: Marie Carroll-O’Sullivan

A landmark Killarney public house, popular with four different generations, has just celebrated its landmark centenary birthday.

O’Connor’s on High Street was decorated with birthday banners and festooned with balloons for the big occasion and happy locals joined the O’Connor family in celebrating the magical 100th birthday.

It is still – and always will be – known to many in Killarney as Teddy’s from the days Kerry GAA legend and Polo Grounds team member Teddy O’Connor and his wife Kitty operated the busy hostelry which is renowned for its rousing traditional music sessions and lively GAA banter.

Celebrating 100 years of pub life on High Street were the O’Connor clan, from left, Rory, Ciara, Matthew, Tess, Tadhg, Caragh and Mary.

The pub was first opened in 1923 by Matthew Cahill, originally from Beaufort, and it was later passed on to his daughter, Kitty, who married Teddy O’Connor in 1950.

Tess O’Connor (centre) who has seen generations of O’Connor’s running the popular bar on High Street pictured with Tadhg and Caragh O’Connor

The business was then taken over and further developed their son, Tadhg – a former Kerry minor and Dr Crokes star – who led the celebrations with his wife, Mary, his brothers Rory and Matthew.

Tadgh and Mary’s daughter, Caragh, a great-granddaughter of original founder Matthew Cahill, is now running the pub on a day-to-day basis.

Teddy and Kitty reared their family in the living quarters over the pub with the help of their cousin Tess O’Connor who was a very popular personality pulling pints in the bar for close on four decades.

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