A Tour of A Typical Irish Town - Ballinamore

The best town in Ireland is  Ballinamore, Leitrim. The river Shannon runs through it and it has so much character. Not to mention great shops, pubs and restaurants.

As you enter it's main street you are greeted with brightly painted houses and shops. 

In the centre of the town is the hotel that has this charming slogan: Food for the Hungry - Rest for the Weary

Then the petrol station (actually one of three but this one has such charm!) 

This is McGirls pub. It hasn't changed much since it was built and I hope it never does. Rustic furniture and a potbelly stove.

The Poor Scholar Pub, in the main street. I have yet to explore this one.

Then there is An Siopa Tae (The Tea Shop) and right next door is An Siopa Ól (The Drink Shop, a pub!)  This is my favourite pub and it has the best open fire that I love to snuggle up close to with a few scoops. It also has half a tractor down the back!

I don't have a photo of Pryors pub but it has the best food ever!

...and now The Forge

 

Now the best shop in Ireland, never mind Ballinamore, has got to be The Forge. What can I say about this Aladdin's Cave except that it sells everything you could want. And I do mean everything! A general store, gift shop, fishing tackle, hardware, jewellery, toys, crafts, souveniers, clothes and more...much more. Did I mention houses? No? well yes, they sell houses and have a furniture auction rooms too. Oh yes,... and antiques.

Owners Gabriel and Dee keep this unique shop in wonderful state of organised chaos but Dee knows where everything is and can put her hand on it for you in a flash! Isn't that the best shop window you have ever seen?

Hope you enjoyed this mini trip to a typical town in rural Ireland and if you ever make a visit here be sure to check out Smyths An Siopa Ól and if there is a good lookin' rock chick hogging the fire then say ...Hello!  'Cos that's me!

Comments

[Rose Mary]

Thanks for the wonderful tour, Pam! I'd love to visit The Forge! Sounds like some of the old General Stores we used to have in small towns here~now replaced by Wal Mart Supercenters:( The pics are lovely, by the way.

R~Mary

P.S. I left a message for you on the forum.

[Colleen]

Someday I will see those lovely small towns (and pubs!) Thanks for the tour - you're the best tour-guide ever!
Colleen

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

What a nice tour-- a lovely area, really just what I picture when I think of Ireland (thanks to watching a bit of Ballykissangel, and Waking Ned Nevine, I think. :)

[holyland tours]

Its very nice and small tour of irish Town in Ireland.These pictures speaks for the place how beautiful it is..It has shops,pubs and hotels..if possible i'll definitely try to go there and visit mainly An Siopa Tae as i am very fond of different type of tea..thanks for sharing this with us..