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Wednesday, July 26, 2000

Museum to Enya and Clannad as Part of Renovations at Leo's Tavern



Leo's Tavern, Meenaleck, Crolly, County Donegal

Thanks to a number of readers who forwarded us the following story which originally appeared in a recent issue of "Donegal Times" newspaper via Rocky Wilcox and shepherdmoons.net, about upcoming planned renovations at Leo's Tavern in Meenaleck, County Donegal:

Museum to Enya and Clannad as part of renovations at world famous Teach Leo

LEO'S Tavern, the family run pub of the Brennans in West Donegal is set to undergo a major transformation in the coming months in an effort to chart the story behind the worldwide success of both Clannad and Enya. The proprietor of Leo's Tavern, Mr. Bartley Brennan, confirmed this week that he will be applying for planning permission to build a cultural centre around the family owned pub.

The plan follows a detailed feasibility study carried out Mr Peter Quinn Consultant. It includes an exhibition room, a theatre for showing videos and for staging concerts as well as seating capacity for three hundred patrons. One of the big attractions of the exhibition room will be a museum which will depict the lifestory of Clannad and Enya from their humble beginnings in Leo's Tavern to the present day.

There are also plans to build a shop and restaurant along with ten guest bedrooms. Due to the worldwide fame of both Clannad and Enya, Leo's Tavern, Meenaleck, Crolly, is a popular stopping off place for thousands of visitors every year, but there is limited space for fans. 'I had thought about this for a while.

Mr Peter Quinn did a feasibility study and will be helping out with marketing and drawing funding for the project. It is a substantial investment but all we are doing is reacting to the huge demand there is from people to know more about how it all began for the Brennan family and Enya,' Mr Brennan said.

'We would see the centre as a major venue for local traditional music and concerts. People from all over the world have visited the pub over the years,' he added. The proprietor said he hoped work could start on the redevelopment by the end of the year. The building work could take over a year to complete. The pub will remain open for business as usual during the redevelopment.