Costigan’s Pub, Washington Street, Cork
Cork has no shortage of old pubs, but Costigan’s on Washington Street has a good claim to being one of the oldest. It’s been trading since 1827, which is nearly two hundred years of pints.
Where it started
Back in 1827 the place belonged to John and Hanora Murphy, and it wasn’t one building but two. Number 11 was the pub. Number 10, next door, was a fishmonger’s. At some point the two were joined, and over the decades the premises had a few other lives. Locals can tell you it was a grocer’s at one stage, and a bootmaker’s, and for a while a flour and meal store. Cork’s tourism site also mentions a spell as a coach house and a sweet shop, so the records don’t all agree, but they all paint the same picture of a building that’s been busy for a very long time.
The name came much later. John and Pauline Costigan bought it in the late 1970s, and it’s been Costigan’s ever since. These days the pub is owned by Colm O’Connor. He’s from Meath originally and took over the lease in 2015, and he’s since become the owner. He says he wants to keep Costigan’s a proper Cork landmark, which is a nice thing to hear about a pub with this much history.
Inside
It’s a traditional layout, the kind that’s getting harder to find. There’s a long bar counter, a snug, a parlour area and an open fire. There’s also a heated beer garden out the back, which is handy when the weather does what Cork weather does.
It changes character as the day goes on. In the daytime it’s a quiet place to get out of the city centre for a while. By night it picks up with the crowd, and the live music helps. Musicians play most evenings from Monday to Thursday, and the playlist runs from traditional Irish tunes to more recent pop, so it’s not strictly a trad session pub. Music nights can change, so it’s worth checking their social media if you’re planning around it.
What to drink
A pint of stout is the obvious answer, and nobody’s going to argue with you. But the pub is also proud of its Irish whiskey and gin selection, with plenty from Cork and the rest of the country. If you like trying something local, it’s a good spot to ask what they’d recommend.
Finding it
Costigan’s is right in the city centre, so you can walk from most places. From Kent Station it takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes on foot. Opening hours vary through the week, so give the pub a quick check online before you set out. If you want to book it for a party or an event, it’s best to contact them directly.
Our take
We like Costigan’s because it hasn’t tried too hard to be anything else. It’s an old pub that’s still doing the job, with a fire, a snug and a friendly bar, and a long list of people who’ve been through the door since 1827. It’s one of our favourites in Cork, and we think it’s well worth an hour of your time.
And Clancys is about a 10 minute walk away if you fancy combining the two pubs.
And cheers to that!
