I noticed the article in the "Hot News" section that Cohan's was in rough shape back in '05. I was wondering if anyone has been there since and how it turned out? I'd like to grab a pint where they sang "The Wild Colonial Boy"
"The Quiet Man" is favorite in our family and we will be visiting Cong next month. In 1988 we stayed at Ashford Castle but I was too tired to go see the movie set that they have on premises. They played the movie on a continuous loop on one of their television channels in the castle and I saw it for the first time there.
Pat Cohan's was actually a grocer that the film folk retrofitted the exterior to look like a pub for the movie. I know that they were trying to raise enough funds to transport the interior set to Cong and reopen it. That was to have been done by June of 2005. However, I was there last July and the place was still in limbo. They have the scaffolding up and appeared to be trying to refurbish but I seem to recall there being discussion of red tape and legalities. It was in sorry shape.
Searching on the web gave me the info about its origins as a grocer but nothing else seemed to be out there regarding its status. It's too bad that red tape is holding up what seems to be a good idea.
It is a pity. I think it would add a lot to the Cong experience. You will have to give a report on its status when you get back. Perhaps it has made some advances. I loved the Abbey in Cong. I could have spent hours there alone. I did purchase a DVD at the Tourist info shop, which is a behind the scenes look at the making of the movie. It is a very excellent DVD. I also purchased a book that was a behind the scenes look.
We were in Cong last September and nothing had been done to Pat Cohan's place. Everyone told us that it would become a pub but no one seemd to know when. We were delighted to discover that Cong is such a beautiful little town in it's own right apart from the 'Quiet Man' movie connection. We too loved the Abbey grounds.
Even though there is a decent number of tourists through Cong, I always felt it was "my own little find." I think it draws a different kind of visitor...The Quiet Man fan or not, so it doesn't have a tour bus feel. I love taking an evening walk through the village and castle grounds.
Hopefully, they can get Pat Cohan's in good shape soon. The story I heard was that they started some major restoration before they had proper planning permission...that caused a ruckus with the council and things have been at a standstill ever since.
A B&B host in Cong told me in 2005 that the original set from The Quiet Man was found in storage in Hollywood and was purchased by the owners of Pat Cohan's...and they were planning to retrofit it into the interior of the building. I haven't been able to verify that tidbit though.
That was the information I gleaned from a conversation with the most delightful elder gentleman just outside of Cohan's last July. He said that normally it is pubs built in Ireland dismantled and taken to America. To see one brought from America and set up in Ireland brought him a chuckle and a smile.
He was a wealth of information. I had my own personal "Behind the Scenes of the Quiet Man" lecture. An axtra made 3 times more than they would for a months work at their regular jobs. It reminded me of when "Man of Aran" was being fimed on Inis Mor. They were paid quite handsomely for their work on that set, as well.
All this talk about Cong is getting me excited! We will be there the last of May for two nights. Staying at Michaeleen"s Manor B&B, where one can even watch "The Quiet Man" in the quiet of one's room. We have been fans since the film came out many years ago. This trip, we wanted to explore the sites a little more, hence a full day there. On the way from The Shores in Castlegregory, we plan to stop at Ballyglunin Railway Station. It is the scene where John Wayne comes to Ireland, and where he later finds Maureen O'Hara and drags her back! What fun!
Also, exploring ancient megalithic sites around Cong. Oh, hurry, May 14th, our departure date!
