Paddy brings the country pub to the heart of Limerick city

From Brylcream to boiled sweets, and puncture repair kits for bicycles, welcome to Limerick’s newest country pub — in the city centre.

Publican Paddy Kelly has turned back the clock to the days when rural pubs catered for the grocery and haberdashery needs of communities.

At his premises, Charlie Malone’s, in Wolfe Tone St, customers can buy anything from a side of cured bacon to a pair of wellington boots.

Paddy, who hails from Bulgaden, Co Limerick, said: “I used to love the old country pubs which traded in all kinds of things other than drink, so I decided to go back to those days.

“I have turned a section of the pub into a store where we have a huge range of household items ranging from mouse traps to electric bulbs.

“A fellow came in the other night and the chain of his bike had come off and I sold him a tin of WD40 oil. When he was at the counter, be bought a puncture repair kit, a tin of sardines, sugar and a tomato sauce. He was one satisfied customer.

“I sold out my entire first stock of men’s braces in the first few days. I got the old style one and they seem to be back in fashion.”

Paddy stocks a wide range of pies and tinned food, and added: “A country shop wouldn’t be complete without boiled sweets. So I have a good stock of bullseyes, clove rock, cough drops, and other old favourites that we sell by the pound weight.”

And his male customers won’t have any excuse for not scrubbing up well: “I have carbolic soap, razors, Brylcream and combs.”

When Paddy calls ‘time’ at night, he gets a lot of varied orders, such as a pint and bag of tea. “Fellas like to go home with some tae for the missus,” he said.

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