IN a complete turnaround of the familiar narrative of pub closures across West Cork and the country, one of Skibbereen’s landmark premises has been happily bucking the trend over the last year, under the ownership of Ann and John O’Driscoll.
Baby Hannah’s might be best known as one of the town’s mostloved pubs, but the new version is far more than that!
This new venue is complete with all the elements needed to survive in the modern age – a great restaurant, wonderful outdoor space, regular live music and… a traditional pub.
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“It was originally a pub but had been left idle for 10 years,” says Ann.
“We took it over and we gutted it completely. It’s a bar and restaurant whilst still retaining the character of the traditional Irish bar,” says John.
From this bar, you walk through into the restaurant area and this, in turn, gives way to the large beer garden.
“It was a very popular place over the summer, with live music and sports showing there,” Ann continues.
“It’s a really family-friendly space too – you can bring your buggy or bring your dog, for example.”
When the O’Driscolls were looking to take over Baby Hannah’s, the pub licence had gone.
Undeterred by the often fruitless task of getting a licence back, eventually they succeeded in securing a licence after two years of efforts.
Where does the name come from?
The original Baby Hannah’s was run by Hannah Connolly.
It opened in the mid-19th century and traded as a shebeen until it became licensed in 1893.
Her daughter became known as “Baby Hannah” and when she passed away in the mid-1970s, the next owners rechristened the pub “Baby Hannah’s” in her honour.
State of the art kitchen
“The kitchen is all new, of course,” says Ann.
“There was never a kitchen there before. We have about 20 staff currently but rising to 30 over periods in the summer and at Christmas. It’s a lot of hard work and a real team effort. We couldn’t do it without our wonderful team behind us !”
The state-of-the-art kitchen facilities include an Italian pizza oven, a popular centrepiece of a kitchen that produces a wide range of dishes to suit their varied clientele, including takeaway meals.
Mural
From the outside, the most eye-catching feature is the wonderful mural on its gable wall depicting the last train to leave Skibbereen; an event which took place in 1961 right alongside Baby Hannah’s and which was painted by local artist Russell Barrett in 1994.
The mural had fallen into a poor state and was beautifully restored by German muralist Claudia Koch earlier this year in a project managed by Skibbereen & District Historical Society with funding from The Heritage Council & Cork Co Council.
Open every day with live music three nights each week!
Baby Hannah’s is open every day of the week – something that sets it quite apart from its rivals.
The doors open at 12.30, with the restaurant closing at 20.30 for the full menu and 21.45 for the pizza menu and the bar remaining open until pub closing time.
There is live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Baby Hannah’s. “On Friday, the music is inside,” says John.
“Saturdays, it’s in the beer garden and on Sunday we have a traditional music session inside.”
The size of the venue also lends itself to catering for bigger groups and Baby Hannah’s regularly welcomes wedding parties and various private events.
West Cork Film Studios has brought a number of groups of over 100 people to the premises, with more than a few celebrities enjoying the best of West Cork hospitality in a landmark setting.
With a full lunch and dinner menu, featuring a Kids Menu and a Pizza Menu, there are also daily specials.
These include cottage pie, roast beef, fish & chips and beef & stout stew, as well as burgers, pizzas and pastas.
All food is locally sourced, supporting West Cork’s food suppliers.
Like the rest of the place, the main bar has been completely refurbished.
When you walk in, what you see is a traditional Irish bar that looks and feels like it’s been there for years.
Music here every Friday evening, with a traditional session on Sunday evenings.
The beer garden now is approximately twice the size of the previous one.
This great outdoor space features retractable awnings and outdoor heating. It has it’s own bar and with the kitchen having an opening to the garden, it’s ideal for outdoor dining.
There’s live music every Saturday with matches showing regularly.
The Baby Hannah’s team want to thank everyone for their support in 2025 and we look forward to seeing you in 2026.
Call this Friday 5th Dec for our special One Year Anniversary celebrations
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