Who is this? Why 'Brennans' Pub?
When choosing a new name for Richard's Bar, we had a few ideas to start with. First, we are a pub more than a bar. Second, we needed to decide who or what to re-name the bar. Should it be something local, from Weert / Limburg? Or something from Ireland, Scotland, or England, to reflect the inspiration for our pub existing at all?
The staff all threw out suggestions, and as a joke (after providing some ideas in English, Dutch, and Irish), the pub's whisky expert Harry suggested 'Brennan's Pub'. The same day, he was sent this photo. This is James Brennan (1934-2001), Harry's grandfather - the photo comes from the CIYMS rugby clubhouse in Belfast.
We're an Irish style pub in Limburg, with owners who love rugby - and here was a sudden, direct connection to a little piece of Irish rugby history!
James (Jim) Brennan played for Ireland in 1957, being selected to replace Paddy O'Donoghue in the front row for matches against Scotland at Murrayfield and Wales at Cardiff. Later that year, he won a place on the Barbarians tour of Canada, but was unable to make the trip.
He also captained the Dublin University football team, and later became a Classics master at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
So that's it - our pub is named after a little piece of Irish rugby history, brought to us by Harry, and now tying Limburg to Ulster. Beyond that, there are many famous Brennans around the world, and you can learn more about them if you come and visit!
