The Crosskeys Inn

The Crosskeys Inn dates back to C.1654, as confirmed by research carried out by Queen’s University, Belfast, and is one of Ireland’s most famous Irish Traditional Music Pubs. Musicians from all over Ireland have at one time or another played within (and outside) its walls.

It is a stone-built cottage with whitewashed walls and was once a coaching stop on the old Belfast to Londonderry road. It was also a shop which sold everything for a rural community in the old times, a post office and of course a bar. Stepping into The Crosskeys Inn has been likened to stepping back in time where the unspoilt nature of the building and surroundings is steeped in hundreds of years of history.

Situated close to the shores of Lough Neagh and within 30 minutes drive from Belfast, The Crosskeys Inn welcomes visitors from all over the world who wish to experience a Traditional Irish Pub of days gone by, and see at first hand the beauty of the local landscape. The local area boasts some of the best golfing, fishing, walking and cycling trails on offer in Northern Ireland.

Irish music sessions are held most Saturday nights with impromptu sessions on some Fridays and Sundays.  They even have their own special Crosskeys Inn Irish whiskey.

The Crosskeys Inn was an impressive winner of the BBC Countryfile Country Pub of the Year 2017. Four pubs were selected throughout the UK with the Crosskeys winning the overall title. It is the oldest thatched pub in Northern Ireland – if not the whole of Ireland. They also won the Best Dinner and Entertainment category at the CIE Tours Awards of Excellence 2019 in Dublin. This is a very special award as there is only one award in this category for the whole of Ireland!