West Cork's award-winning Lifeboat Inn: 'TikTok was where it started for us'

The couple behind Ireland's ‘Pub of the Year’ chat to Breda Graham about their award-winning pub in Courtmacsherry, the importance of community, going TikTok viral and their predictions about what’s in store for the industry in 2025

Martin Buckley (left) and David O'Halloran (right), owners of The Lifeboat Inn.

The Lifeboat Inn, nestled on the waterfront of the seaside village of Courtmacsherry in West Cork, is the brainchild of partners David O’Halloran and Martin Buckley who first opened their doors in 2017.

The pair met in college in Cork back in 2009 and realised early on in their relationship that they wanted to open a restaurant together.