Grace Neill's
DONAGHADEE, COUNTY DOWN



Grace Neill's claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland. It was almost four centuries ago in 1611 when "The King's Arms" first opened its doors for business. Renamed "Grace Neill's"" in the last century, Grace Neill (1818-1916) was a former landlady who adhered to a custom of the period, which involved greeting visitors to the inn with a welcoming kiss. Neill, who ran the inn for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, is now believed to haunt the building. Much of the activity appears to be located in the cosy, dark front bar, where staff have watched an unseen hand move glasses and books around while lights have been switched on and off. Slow, ponderous footsteps are heard from the bar, crossing the floor above, and people have felt an invisible presence 'pass through them' in the vicinity of the pub's staircase.