Iconic Connolly's of leap to re-open before Christmas

ONE of West Cork’s most iconic music venues is to re-open.

Sam McNicholl of Connolly’s in Leap said a Christmas launch is on the cards following Judge James McNulty’s decision at Skibbereen Court on Tuesday to grant the venue a dance licence.

Sam and his mother Eileen Connolly were in court to hear their solicitor, Colette McCarthy, make the application on their behalf.

Afterwards, Sam told The Southern Star: ‘We are delighted to be back in business as a music venue.’

The popular pub closed in November 2006, making it almost nine years to the day the dance application was made. 

In recent months, the pub – which has attracted all the big names in the music business – was renovated in ‘up-cycled’ fashion.

The new bar counter, for example, is made of the late, great Paddy McNicholl’s old snooker table. There is even a new dance floor that Eileen said would be put to good use when the venue re-opens in December.

In addition to providing an excellent acoustic venue for live acts and dances, Connolly’s of Leap will also be put to good use as a film and comedy club, and a theatre.

But Sam said he wanted to temper expectations: ‘It won’t happen all at once. We will take it step by step.’