placenamesRoadford
Áth an Bhóthair
The McGann family’s account traces a Roadford pub’s change during the growth of Doolin’s music scene.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Áth an Bhóthair · Irish · main form · non-validated name
- Roadford · English · main form
Place & story
From Lafferty’s to McGann’s
Brothers Tony and Tommy McGann bought the pub previously known as Lafferty’s in 1975. Their family history recalls difficult early years, followed by a change in fortunes when the Lisdoonvarna Folk Festival brought younger visitors to the area. Music sessions became a regular feature from the 1980s onwards. [2]
The family subsequently developed the outdoor space in 2020 and 2021, adding a separate bar for the garden area. The changes added another setting for music alongside the older indoor pub. [2]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Roadford. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- McGann’s Pub: A bit of history · McGann’s Pub, Doolin
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2026-06-09. How this page was prepared.