End of an era as time called at Nealum's after over a century

NEALUM’S Bar in the Square closed its doors for the final time on Sunday evening, May 12th, to mark the end of an era in the local pub trade.

Margaret O’Driscoll (née O’Neill) is the third generation of a family that have been publicans in Dunmanway for almost 120 years. Two previous generations (Crowleys and O’Neill’s) and, latterly, Margaret & Joe O’Driscoll and their staff ran the pub.

Nealum’s Bar has long been a popular venue with young and old, where there has always been a warm welcome and a cosy fire awaiting. Last weekend saw large crowds gather for one final drink and to reminisce about the good times shared there.  

Margaret and Joe thanked their customers and staff for all their support throughout the years. Nealum’s bar has been in Margaret’s family since the early 1900s.  

Margaret’s grandmother, Margaret Crowley from Ballyhalwick, bought the bar from the O’Donovan family, who then went on to open The Shamrock Bar. At that time, the name over the door was Crowley.  Margaret’s father, Denis O’Neill, later took over the bar. People often ask where the name Nealum’s came from: Margaret and Joe changed the name to ‘Nealums’ in 1995, as a tribute to Margaret’s father, whose nickname was ‘Nealum.’