| Leo's Tavern Tábhairne Leo | |
| Logo Alt: | Leo's Tavern logo |
| Image Alt: | Leo's Tavern in 2005 |
| Established: | 1968 |
| Current-Owner: | Leo Brennan (founder) Bartley Brennan (proprietor) |
| Food-Type: | Irish traditional, European |
| City: | Meenaleck, Crolly, Gweedore |
| County: | Donegal |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Other-Information: | Pub, music venue, tourist attraction |
| Website: | www.leostavern.com |
Leo's Tavern (ga|Tábhairne Leo) is a pub in the Donegal Gaeltacht, known as the home of music artists Clannad, Enya and Moya Brennan. It serves food and is a music venue.[1] The pub opened in 1968 and held Irish traditional music sessions nightly, becoming the musical starting block for the children of Leo Brennan, the pub's founder.[2]
At the end of Ireland's showband era, musician Leo Ó Braonáin settled with his wife Máire "Baba", opening Tábhairne Leo in 1968.[3] The pub became a gathering place for musicians and singers to take part in Irish traditional music sessions. While working shifts behind the bar, Leo's children Máire (Moya), Ciarán, Pól Ó Braonáin, Noel, and Pádraig Ó Dúgáin would accompany their father on stage to tell old Irish stories, or seanchas, to the locals.[4] While touring in later years as Celtic/Folk band Clannad, the siblings, their uncles, and their younger siblings Brídín, Eithne (Enya), Olive, and Deirdre would perform.The pub has also hosted guests and performers such as Bono,[5] The Edge, Paul Brady,[5] Christy Moore, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Mary Black. Tour buses of tourists began to visit the pub to hear Leo sing and tell stories.[6]
The pub was renovated in 2002,[7] and now also has a food offering and features Gold, Platinum and Diamond discs and memorabilia associated with Clannad, Moya and Enya on its walls.[8]
The tavern was celebrated during the 2005 Errigal Arts Festival, at which Leo and Baba Brennan were awarded the Freedom of Donegal by Donegal County Council.[9] The ceremony, held on 14 July 2005, was preceded by a series of concerts called Oidhreacht (Irish for Legacy). These concerts featured Leo and Baba's daughters performing at St. Mary's Church in Derrybeg. A jazz concert was also held, with some of these events being broadcast on TG4 and RTÉ Television.
Leo's Tavern marked its 40th anniversary in 2008 and held a three-day celebration. A concert was held, featuring music from Leo Brennan, Clannad, Brídín Brennan, Deirdre Brennan, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Manus Lunny.[10]
Leo Brennan died on 22 June 2016, aged 90.[11]