As you park the car at Michael and Annemarie Coyne's neatly presented pub overlooking Kilkieran Bay, donkeys in the field alongside amble over to the wall, inquisitive noses twitching at the prospect of food - a typical welcome to the Connemara Gaeltacht (Irish speaking area), and to this real old-fashioned Irish pub.

It’s a down to earth place, a million miles from the Irish theme pubs you find abroad. A door leads straight from the road into the bar and high stools stand around the wooden counter. To the left is the Bistro, to the right the more comfortable bar seating.

With coffee painted panelling on the walls and a tiled floor in the bar area with plenty to read on the walls, including age old photos taken locally of an era long gone - and a copy of the 1916 proclamation - and large windows frame the view down to Kilkieran pier and the bay.

For those wishing to eat you can choose between the restaurant and the bar or in fine weather, you can sit outside at picnic tables set up to make the most of the beautiful view.

Food is one of the main reasons for visiting Coyne’s, as Annemarie is a chef with years of experience in Galway city under her belt and a desire to bring good food to Kilkieran and the food has a deservedly good reputation. Menus are in both English and Irish, which gives a nice sense of place, and everything is cooked to order - the Coynes aim to give a proper informal dining experience, accessibly priced and catering for all tastes.

They take pride in everything that leaves the kitchen, beginning with really tasty basics like homemade soups - and particularly the speciality of the house, a delicious seafood chowder: thick and plentiful with good chunks of fresh local fish and served with a homemade brown scone, it’s a meal in itself.

Coynes Bar also offers Free WIFI to its customers as well as Satellite Television helping make your stay in Kilkieran/ Journey all the more worth while