Last orders called as landmark local pub closes for now

IT was a case of last drinks ... almost ... as the landmark pub in Kilconly village, Blake’s, closed on New Year’s Night. But while lessee TP O’Malley is leaving the business, the owner of the premises, Martin Blake, says he hopes it will reopen sometime in the future after major refurbishment.
As he pulled the final pints TP O’Malley said it was a night tinged with sadness as he was moving on “to do different things” after over 26 years in the bar business.
“We have so many memories of serving customers from 18 to 88,” said TP in reference to one of the oldest of the clientele, Paddy Dunleavy, who was there on the final night and who is in his 88th year.