Game, Set, Match
The story of McHugh’s Bar Carrick-on-Shannon actually starts in the heat and dust of the Australian mines. In 2008, when the Irish economy crashed, Caroline and Enda McHugh left Ireland for Australia in search of a better life. For the next ten years, they worked in high-pressure environments: Enda on the mining frontlines, while Caroline transitioned from working in the mines to founding and running her own migration firm. Eventually, wanting their children to grow up at home, they returned to Carrick. They had originally purchased the pub building as a hands-off investment, but in 2019, fate intervened. Their tenant unexpectedly handed back the keys, and in an instant, the couple transitioned from landlords to hands-on publicans.
The heart of the community
There is a dispute ongoing over the building’s original stone façade, which is taking them away from running the business
What started as a modest local spot with a capacity of 150 has transformed into one of Carrick’s premier destinations, with a capacity of 800. Despite having only limited bar experience from her college days, Caroline, alongside Enda and their dedicated team of 30 staff, have created a space that truly feels like the heart of the community. Whether you are a regular or one of the many visitors traveling from every corner of the country to experience Carrick at the weekend, you’ll find a seat at their bar. “We pride ourselves on being a cross-generational hub, welcoming a vibrant crowd ranging from 18 to 80,” says Caroline. “During the warmer months, our seasonal food truck, the Bandwagon, serves up light bites in the beer garden, making it the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the best of Irish hospitality”. McHughs Lager and McHughs Irish Whiskey are part of the expansive drinks menu.
The vision: evolving the local
Their festival-grade elevated stage has been used by Nathan Carter as the backdrop for one of his music videos.
Taking over a century-old pub in a competitive hub like Carrick-on-Shannon required a total reimagining of the “local.” The McHugh’s set out to build a venue where all generations could socialise under one roof. Through meticulous renovation, they created “The Outback” aptly named to honour the very place where the funds were earned to purchase the premises. This space features a festival-grade elevated stage which has been used by Nathan Carter as the backdrop for one of his music videos. Rural businesses have to consider the issue of transport due to the drink driving laws. To solve this issue, they refused to wait for a government bus; they took matters into their own hands and bought a limo, ensuring their guests enjoy a premium, transport experience. “Ireland now operates under some of the strictest drink-driving limits in the world. While we all support road safety, the government has created a “Safety Law” without a survival plan. By allowing astronomical insurance and suffocating bureaucracy to kill off small-scale hackneys and by failing to provide the infrastructure to support its own legislation, the state has presided over the closure of over 2,100 pubs, one in four, across this country since 2005,” states Caroline. The fact that they have had to provide a transport option for their customers is indicative of the lengths rural operators have to go to to ensure the survival of their businesses.
Match Day Pub of the Year
McHugh’s was named as Best Match Day Pub at the Irish Pub Awards 2025
McHugh’s was officially crowned the Best Match Day Pub at the Irish Pub Awards last year, a prestigious nod to its status as the ultimate destination for sports fans. McHughs is a pub that doesn’t just focus on service; it focuses on belonging. Whether it is a quiet, reflective midweek pint or the highoctane energy of a packed house on a Saturday afternoon, the atmosphere is underpinned by a commitment to inclusivity. “Winning the Best Match Day Pub Award isn’t just about having the most screens; it’s about understanding the fan’s psychology,” explains Caroline. “McHugh’s won because they deliver a comprehensive match-day experience that respects the ritual of the game. The atmosphere mentioned by the judges isn’t accidental, it is a result of an electric, inclusive environment where the buzz is palpable from the moment you step inside.” Caroline and Enda seem to have a natural flair for hospitality and business, more akin to people who were born into a business. They understand what people want from their local pub and just opening the doors doesn’t guarantee success anymore. There is a lot of hard work and thought going on in the background to create a really unique environment.
Defensive administration
McHughs Bar is run by Caroline and Enda McHugh
While the public sees a thriving venue, the operational reality is increasingly dominated by what the owners call “defensive administration.” Caroline and Enda estimate that 50% of their working time is now spent navigating red tape rather than hosting guests. The most recent example of this burden is the current dispute over the building’s exterior. During works, an original stone facade was uncovered. Choosing to preserve this piece of local heritage led to a protracted disagreement with planning authorities. The irony is visible daily from the office window: while the owners are inside committing significant time and legal fees to defend the wall’s “aesthetics,” a constant stream of tourists stops outside to photograph it. “The gap between public appreciation and regulatory appreciation remains a very costly frustration for a business capable of handling the pressures of a high-volume hospitality environment,” explains Caroline. Their time could be much better spent working in the business than having to focus on this.
An existential crisis
While Carrick-on-Shannon remains a vibrant and thriving town, Caroline says that they understand that many of their fellow publicans across the West of Ireland are not so lucky. The experience at McHughs serves as a blueprint for the challenges facing the wider trade; if a business in a busy hub feels this pressure, those in smaller, rural communities are facing an existential crisis, believes Caroline. “The modern publican has been forced to become a legal clerk. We now spend half our working lives navigating unnecessary planning hurdles and defending authentic heritage against arbitrary aesthetic whims. Where there should be partnership, there is only obstruction. Small businesses do not need more barriers; they need the exact contrary – encouragement.” She is calling for a drastic reduction in red tape and the introduction of inviting policies that foster growth and preservation rather than a culture of fear and litigation.
Claims culture
The Bandwagon is situated in the beer garden of McHugh’s and serves light bites
We have long heard the problem with public liability claims in the pub and restaurant industry. According to Caroline, the current “claims culture” treats businesses like “open-access ATMs”. “We need a common-sense legal standard where “duty of care” is a two-way street. If the law continues to reward individuals for their own lack of care, the insurance premiums will continue to rise,” she argues. Another issue she mentions is Ireland’s excise duty, which is already the second highest in the EU. But she says the real insult is the hidden calculation which is the “tax on a tax.” “The government applies a 23% VAT rate on the total price, meaning you are literally paying tax on top of the already massive excise tax.” “The government is currently “intoxicated” by multinational tax revenue. But Apple and Google don’t move the needle on a local village, the local pub does. While the state boasts of a massive budget surplus, it has watched a quarter of the country’s social hubs vanish. When the economy shifts, the multinationals move; the small business stays. We are the “social glue” that prevents rural isolation and keeps the heart of Ireland beating,” she says. “It is time for the government to stop “picking concepts out of hats” and start looking at the reality on the ground. You cannot apply “First World” regulations to areas with “Third World” infrastructure. Supporting the local pub is not just a business decision; it is a choice to protect the community itself and our heritage.” Rural publicans need to be heard on these issues or the longevity of pubs like McHughs or even the existence of these pubs will be seriously compromised.
