Publican pat to push for more business
CASTLEBAR publican Pat Moran is as likely to sing you a song as he is to pull you a pint. For the past 15 months he has been running Pat Moran’s@Cosgrove’s on the town’s Spencer Street. Now he is endeavouring to raise the level of service to a higher level, writes Tom Gillespie.
With the transfer of court sittings from various locations in the county to Castlebar, Spencer Street has become a hub of legal activity. Pat, whose family are steeped in the pub trade, is now serving food, has installed a pool table and is finalising plans for a winter darts league.
Pat explained: “I have been 15 months here in Spencer Street. The premises had been closed for a few years. My aim is to increase the trade through very difficult trading times, hopefully by serving soup, sandwiches, coffees and teas and opening from 10.30 a.m. We will be operating full pub hours. We have had a very tough 15 months. But there is a lift of a lift in the economy. People are coming out and I realise if you put on music you get more people in.
“This is a great and vibrant street. You have got the courts, the motor tax office. It is a good street for doing business. I hope to get a bit of that business in conjunction with the other good food outlets on the street.
“On different court days people want to be in different pubs, maybe sit in the corner and have a chat with their solicitor, mull over things, and hopefully we will be able to add to the service that is already there.
“Spencer Street if one of the oldest streets where some of the original residents still reside. It is a pleasure to work on this street.”
He said being a Castlebar man, it is always a pleasure to see some of the townies coming in. “Thankfully, I still get customers coming who were customers of my late father, Paddy Moran, on Rush Street. It is heart-warming and makes you feel good. “It is great to see customers from McHale Road coming down for a pint at the weekend. They always give me a shout.”
Pat is hoping to build on parties with Christmas coming up. Music wise, Greg Traynor features every three months with his Elvis show, while friends, such as Tom Lyons and company from Balla, regularly come in and play traditional music and have a good sing-a-long. Pat, too, started to sing two years ago and has done a couple of gigs.