Popular Longford bar in Lanesboro set to serve its last orders before closure

A Lanesboro pub which first opened its doors 22 years ago will see its last pint being pulled next Sunday night. The popular Clarke’s Bar on Main Street, leased by Steve and Teresa Ormsby, is set to close on October 5 but not before a week of nightly celebrations followed by a final farewell party on Sunday for all to enjoy.

Reminiscing over the two decades that have passed since they first leased the bar from the late Peg Clarke, Steve says it has been an amazing journey.

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Like all the best pubs, the walls of Clarke’s have seen countless characters. “At one stage we nearly became a barbershop!”

Steve laughs. “One of the old boys got a hair cutter for Christmas and for months afterward, the lads would take it in turns to cut each other’s hair down the back.

“Another regular spent a fortnight munching through the box of After Eights in the Christmas hamper on the counter. He managed to get his hand in around the back and through the cellophane. The hamper was won and out it went with an empty box of After Eights! Needless to say, an apology was later made to the family that had won it!”

On the wall beside the front door, two portraits of beloved regulars who have since passed take pride of place.

It’s clear the Ormsby’s hold so much love for their pub, for every musician who frequented it, and for every customer who enjoyed a drink there.

Over the years, each of their four children, Stephen, Siobhán, Aisling, and Liam, paid their dues working behind the bar.

Another employee, Emma, even became their daughter-in-law. “While part of us will be sad to close the doors on such a huge part of our life, we’re ready to do so,” Teresa says. “Right now, we’re looking forward to spending more time with family, particularly our grandchildren, Lottie, Tommy, Èala, and Sèan Òg. We’re just so thankful to our brilliant staff Claire, Mick, Cian, and Óisín and to everyone who supported us over the years.”

As every publican can attest, weathering the challenges of the trade is a skill in itself.

As Steve explains, “when we started there was a lot of employment in the area with new housing estates being built and the new power station also being built. We were very busy.

Unfortunately the power station is no longer operating. The loss of the power station and Bord na Móna was huge, not only for employees but for the larger local area.”

Despite the setbacks, Lanesboro’s “tremendous sense of community” has always remained at the heart of the warm atmosphere Clarke’s pub became famous for.

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As the Ormsby family look forward to starting a new story, the next few nights will be spent celebrating the current chapter before it closes for good.

Says Teresa “We hope everyone will join us in our final week of celebration. We intend to raise a glass to customers who are with us, as well as the dear customers who were part of this journey but are no longer with us.”

The final farewell:

Wednesday October 1: Traditional music session with Noel Carberry, Joe McGrath, and Nuala Donlon.

Friday October 3: Music with Séamus Farrell, Gerry Keenan, Brian Ross, Frank Nelson and other artists

Saturday October 4: Acting the Maggot

Sunday October 5: Time for one last day of storytelling, reminiscing, laughter, and song.