Located in Athlone, Sean’s Bar is the oldest pub in Europe, dating back to 900 AD. It was first built as a stopping point for those crossing the River Shannon, next to which it still sits.
The pub has set on display a piece of the original wall made of wicker and wattle, which were discovered layered in the walls when renovation efforts took place in 1970. Renovators also found old coins used for payments that dated back to the same time period.
Sean’s Bar is in Athlone, a town that gets its name from the Irish words Atha Luain, meaning "the Ford of Luain" The name honors a man named Luain, who helped people cross the dangerous ford waters. Over time, the crossing point became a hub of activity, and a settlement naturally formed around the ford. In 1129, King Turlough O’Connor built a large wooden castle in the area. One interesting commodity of the pub is a record of every owner since it was founded more than a thousand years ago. It was even owned by Boy George for a short while in 1987.