Welcome to
Donegal's most famous pub. The home of #Clannad and #Enya.
Where To Find Us
Tábhairne Leo or Leo's Tavern is situated in North West Ireland in the beautiful and picturesque County Donegal, in the village of Meenaleck.
Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way, between the popular tourist destination of Mount Errigal and the Atlantic Ocean, Leo's Tavern is renowned for its music being the family home of world famous musical talents Enya, Clannad and Moya Brennan.
OUR HISTORY
Tábhairne Leo was originally opened by Leo Brennan and his wife Maire (Baba) in 1968 as an entertainment venue to enjoy live music. Now under the proprietorship of youngest son Bartley and following a complete refurbishment of the original Leo's, he has elevated the premises to be the premier destination Entertainment Bar Restaurant in the North West of Ireland.
The walls are adorned with Gold and Platinum disks, memorabilia and numerous photos of the family with world famous musical faces.
There’s always something going on at Leo's Tavern so drop in for some lovely food and a great nights entertainment. You never know who might be there.
I process love and grief through writing mostly. Those who know me…know this much. A month ago today, my dear friend and mentor Moya Brennan passed away, and I’ve been slowly finding my thoughts inside that reality. I traveled to Donegal for her wake and funeral, and it was one of the most beautiful and deeply human gatherings I have ever been a part of. The music, the stories, the landscape itself, all seemed to carry her presence. Everything seemed to flow as if she was there directing it herself. Including the sunshine.
Moya spoke about Donegal the way I speak about the prairie, as though the landscape itself carries memory, grief, love, and joy. Standing there, I began to think that Donegal and the prairie may hold memory in much the same way. The endless wind, the far horizon, her surrounding ocean and my sea of tallgrass, all seem to remind us that memory lives within us, and that we are left to decide what to do with it. To create. To wander. To dream.
Moya shaped me in ways that reached far beyond music. Of course there were the lessons in the studio, her extraordinary ear, the way she layered vocals like threads of light and taught me to listen for what lives beneath a song. But more than that, she taught me patience in a way I did not fully understand until years later. Maybe even until now.
One of the last conversations we had still sits with me on most days. She said, “Go really big, Ashley. Go way outside of the box, beyond Celtic music, beyond the prairie… do it all and see it all and put it in your music.” Well, something close to that over martinis.
The next album I wrote was *Mantra*, in Sanskrit. So, I think, maybe I did listen that night.
My dear friend Cormac took this photograph of me and our friend looking out at the sea, her view now. And it seems strange that I will head back over in a couple of weeks and she will not be there to visit. I suppose I will continue processing this life, this landscape, and this loss the only way I know how: through writing, singing, and wandering.
For Moya.
❤ AD
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Well Done All 👏👏
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Our rural school is nestled in County Donegal on the rugged North-West coast of Ireland. With just 90 pupils, our school is small, but our ...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
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Enjoy a tasty home-cooked meal in a warm relaxing atmosphere
MUSIC
CEOL
Leo’s is famous worldwide for its musical heritage and unique lively music nights. “Leo Brennan himself had his famous nightly sing songs down throughout the years where young and old would come along to enjoy and join in the night’s entertainment.” In more recent year’s his daughter Moya Brennan has established a highly successful “Clubeo” night which provides a platform where again young and old take to the stage to perform and entertain. “Clubeo” nights have a guest Band or musician perform on the night and those who have performed over the years include, Brian Kennedy, Phil Coulter, Clann Mic Ruairí, to name but a few. Couple this night with the regular Ballad, Traditional and Ceili nights, a visit to Leo’s is not to be missed.
“We always run out of time before we run out of Music & Song”
Leo Brennan (1925-2016)
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Leo's is decorated in a country pub style the bar creates a comfortable atmosphere during the cold winter nights whilst retaining its intimate Irish pub feeling with traditional music softly playing in the background. There are various pictures and memorabilia to the walls to remind patrons of days of old.
