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About Friels Historic Bar & Restaurant

Friels Bar and Restaurant is currently run by the fifth generation of the Friel family. The bar has been in the family name for over one hundred years. In the public bar, you will get a real feel of the old world, with pictures and memorabilia of bygone times. Our roaring log fire in winter makes Friels a cosy place to spend an evening.

2-4 Kilrea Rd, Swatragh, BT46 5QF

Bookings: 028 7940 1206

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National Poetry Day 🖊 📚 . A tribute to Mick McAtamney . Born in the townland of Macknagh halfway between Swatragh and Maghera, judging by one of his earliest verses, he must have opened his eyes to a wintry scene. . I was born on a stormy morning in eighteen-sixty-two, . The snow was flying and I was crying, . There wasn’t much else that I could do. . Mick grew up in post-famine Ireland where the ravages of enforced emigration cast a long shadow over the land. . He attended Killyleagh School and worked on local farms. At the age of eighteen, he left for Scotland and the industrial heartland of Clydeside to work in the shipyards. He wasn’t happy and returned to Swatragh after a short time. . . In 1885 he headed for America and the land of opportunity. . He often said, “I was in every State in America except the State of GRACE! . “I put a penny on a thumb-nail, And tossed it up to see, . If I was going to Pittsburg, Or Memphis, Tennessee . .It came down ahead for Pittsburgh, I retrieved it from the snow, . So I took the Kitty-Stockdale, Up the Ohio. . The Kitty Stockdale. . . His wanderings took him to 31 states and he had a fondness for the forests and lakes of Minnesota and Michigan. . In 1929, America’s economic roller-coaster jumped the rails and the New York stock market collapsed. Mick left America and returned home to south Derry in 1932 where he set up home in Moneysharvin. . It is often difficult to unravel fact from fiction in recounting McAtamneys adventures in America. . Over the next few years, his poems appeared in the local press. . “The smiddys hammer said it upon the anvil clear, . And Quintins Pat relayed it and sent it in the air ; . McQuillan took his hammer, he smiled “I think” says he . “If they want some anvil grammar let them harken here to me.” . Donnelly’s Mill. . The full poem is located beside the fireplace in our back room. . . When Mick came home from America his only possession was his own hand-carved stick which is now hanging up behind Friels Bar. This stick was left for Jonny’s Friels wife as she always admired it when he frequented the bar. #friels #frielsbar #irishpoetry #nationalpoetryday #irishliterature #irishpoet

A little taster of what live music we have on this weekend!! 😁 🎶 🍻 🍷 . . . . #friels #frielsbar #livemusic #livemusicvenue #swatragh

I love you a latte 🥰 ☕️ . . . . #coffee #latte #mondaymotivation #mondaymood #friels #frielsbar #swatragh #takeoutcoffee

Latte to go! Bring your reusable coffee cup with you ♻️ 🌍 💚 ☕️ . . . . . #coffee #javarepublic #keepcup #friels #frielsbar #swatragh

The fantastic Tony Kearney playing in the front bar tonight 🎶 . . . #sundaysessions #friels #frielsbar #swatragh #livemusic #irishpub

Guess who’s back, back again, Houssain’s back, tell a friend 🍸 🍹🥂🍷🍾 . . . . #friels #frielsbar #swatragh #cocktails #weekend #sundaysips #frenchmartini

Morelli’s toffee fudge waffle please, two spoons! 🍦 🤤 🍓 . . . . #friels #frielsbar #swatragh #morellis #datenight #sweettooth #dessertsni

A pint of the black stuff on a Friday 🙌🏼 . . . #guinness #fridayfeeling #friday #Friels #frielsbar #swatragh #stout #discoverni #tastetheisland

Friels 1837 Special 🤤 . 12oz seared @mcatamneysbutchers prime rump steak, sauté onions, mushrooms, grilled tomato served with peppercorn or Bushmills sauce 🥩 🍅 🧂 🍴😍 . Which sauce would you choose? 🧐 . . . #friels #frielsbar #swatragh #steak #steaknight #rumpsteak #locallysourced #localfood #tasteofulster #tastetheisland

The fire is lit, summer is definitely over! 😭 🔥 🥶 ☔️ ☕️ . . . @java.republic #javacoffee #mocha #cosy #fire #frielsbar #swatragh #frielsbarandrestaurant

A few literary additions to our snug 📚🖋🔥 • Can you see any of your favourites up there? 🤓 🕯 • • • #irishliterature #irishpub #frielsbar #friels #swatragh #touristpuboftheyear #poetry #irishwriters

Morning Seamus! ☕️ ⏰ 📚 . . . #seamusheaney #irishliterature #frielsbar #friels #swatragh #irishpoetry #mickmcatamney #irishpub #snug #localartist #painting

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