Crotty's is the most traditional of Kilrush's pubs, a corner bar on the market square that has been pulling pints for generations. The interior is dim, the seats are worn, and the locals treat newcomers with the relaxed interest that characterises west Clare hospitality. The pub is known for hosting traditional music sessions — ask at the bar what nights they happen, as the schedule changes seasonally.
Food at Crotty's runs to reliable pub standards: sandwiches, soup, and occasionally a hot dish of the day. But it is the atmosphere that makes it worth a visit. Sit near the window and watch the square fill and empty over the course of an evening, and you get a fair picture of what daily life in a small Irish market town actually looks like.