Old hands turn new pub into a winner
The top honour was bestowed following deliberations by a panel of trade and celebrity judges which included Ireland and Lions rugby star David Wallace, Fair City actor Stuart Dunne (aka Billy Meehan) and RTÉ weather girl Evelyn Cusack Brothers Paul and Alan Murphy, along with their business partner David Smith, bought the pub, formerly known as the Riverboat Inn, just last year.
But this was not the Murphy brothers’ first venture into the hospitality industry, nor is winning the Pub of the Year award their only claim to success in the business.
The brothers had previously run another pub in the Co Mayo town, called Murphy Bros, which picked up the National Superpub title in the same competition three years ago.
Some time after that success, the pair decided to retire from the pub business, but then the opportunity arose to purchase Crocket’s and they and Mr Smith decided to go for it.
The pub, which overlooks the River Moy, was totally refurbished last year and now includes four bars, one restaurant and eight guest rooms, each with an ensuite bathroom.
Altogether, the establishment provides employment to more than 60 people.
The name of the pub is derived from the former Crocketsown village area of Ballina.
The village was named after William Crocket, a land agent for Col Edward Wingfield, a member of the Powerscourt family who owned large tracts of land in Mayo and Sligo.
“We’re absolutely over the moon at winning this award,” said co-owner Paul Murphy at a gala awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday.
“We thought we might have had some outside chance of winning the prize for Connacht,” Mr Murphy said.
“But never in our wildest dreams did we think we would win the overall award.”
All entrants were judged on staff efficiency and friendliness, atmosphere, design, service, choice of drinks and hygiene.
