Swans Bar & Paud O'Donoghue's Forge, Curragha

Welcome to Swan’s

Paud O’Donoghue’s Forge and Swan’s Bar is owned and run by the Swan family. It is situated in the historic and picturesque little village of Curragha in the Royal County and is one of Meath’s oldest music venues. It is a place where people and music from different generations and cultures meet to create one of the most unique Irish Pub experiences Ireland has to offer.

The secret to our success is simple; to look after each person, not as a customer, but as an old friend, and with good drink and good craic, they’ll always come back. So whether it’s a quiet pint in front of a roaring open fire; a mouthwatering visit to our old sweet shop; soaking up the craic, music and banter in our bar; enjoying old-time waltzing and jiving in Patsy’s Lounge; visiting Paud O’Donoghue’s historic forge, or simply watching the world go by in our beergarden, Swan’s of Curragha is the place to be.

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS STRANGERS - JUST FRIENDS YOU HAVEN’T MET YET! WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU ALL.

How to find us

Coming from Ashbourne: Head north on the N2 towards Navan/Slane. At the Marriott Hotel, take the second exit off the roundabout towards Slane. Take the first left at the Tayto/Hunky Dory signs. Continue for approx 2km until you reach a crossroads and Swan’s Pub is on your left.

Coming from Ratoath: Head north on the Curragha Road (R155) towards Slane. Follow the road for approx 4km, passing Curragha church and school. Swan’s Pub is situated at the crossroads.

Coming from Dublin: Travelling on the M50, take exit 5 Finglas/Ashbourne exit. Continue north on the M2 for approx 25km. Do not take the Ashbourne exit; instead continue to the end of the dual carriageway. At the Marriott Hotel roundabout, take the first exit towards Belfast. Travel 200 metres and take the first left. Continue for approx 2km and we are on the left. Approx travel time from Dublin City Centre, 30 mins.

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Free Courtesy Bus

Why not leave the car at home! We offer a FREE courtesy bus to the Curragha, Ratoath and Ashbourne area. Group pickup can be arranged. Just call 01 8350236 for more information.

A brief history of Ireland in the 1700’s

At the crossroads in Curragha a monument was erected to commemorate the work the blacksmiths of Ireland played in the rebellion of 1798. One such blacksmith was Paud O’Donoghue whose forge stood in its present position behind Swan’s pub in Curragha.

Cromwell

During his time in power, Oliver Cromwell ordered all harps and organs in Ireland to be seized and destroyed, and authorities seized and burned almost 500 in Dublin alone. Mere posession of items that symbolised Celtic pride and culture such as harps, bagpipes and traditional clothing became not only illegal, but punishable by hanging.

The Penal Laws

An Irish Catholic was forbidden...

to exercise his religion
to receive an education
to enter a profession
to hold public office
to live in a corporate town or within 5 miles thereof
to vote or purchase land
to personally educate his own child
to keep arms for his own protection
to own a horse of greater value than £5

The passage of the Penal Laws during the reign of William III stripped Catholics of their civil rights and ushered in a new era of economic, religious and political discrimination and persecution. These laws made it so advantageous to be protestant (and so life-threatening to be Catholic) that the British Crown assumed all Irish would convert and Catholicism would be driven out of Ireland for good.

The British understimated the Irish people’s hunger for freedom including the longstanding Irish penchant for rebellion and disobedience. One such man who refused to bow to oppression and tyranny was the young Paud O’Donoghue whose actions would live forever in local folklore.

The Ballad of Paud O’Donoghue

by Patrick Archer

When the Yeos were in Dunshaughlin
And the Hessians in Drumree,
And spread through fair Moynalty’s plain
Were the Fencibles of Reagh.
When Roden’s God-less troupers reigned
From Skryne to Mullacroo
And hammered were the pike heads first
by Paud O’Donoghue.

Young Paud he was as brave a boy
As ever hammer swung,
And the finest hurdler that you’d find
In the lads of Meath among.
And when the wrestling match was o’er
No man could boast he threw
The black-haired smith of Curraha,
Young Paud O’Donoghue.

But ninety-eight’s dark season came
And Irish hearts were sore,
The pitcheap and the triangle
The patient folk outwore.
Young Paud, he thought of Ireland,
And says, there’s work to do.
We’ll forge some steel for freedom,
Says Paud O’Donoghue.

And at Curraha each night
You’d hear his anvil ring
While scouting on the roadside
Where Hugh and Phelim King,
With Duffy’s Matt and Mickey’s Pat
And Hughie Gilsenan too,
While in the forge for Ireland worked
Young Paud O’Donoghue.

But a traitor crept amongst them
And the secret soon was sold
To the captain of the yeomen
For his ready Saxon gold.
And a troop rushed out one evening
From the woods of Lone Kilbrue
And soon a rebel prisoner bound
Was Paud O’Donoghue.

"Don on your knees, you rebel dog,"
The yeoman captain roared,
And high above his silver crest
He waved his gleaming sword.
"Down on your knees to meet your doom,
Such is the rebel’s due,"
But straight as pikestaff ’fore him stood
Young Paud O’Donoghue.

And there upon the roadside
In childhood he had played
Before the cruel yeoman
He stood quite undismayed.
"I kneel but to my God above,
I ne’er shall bow to you.
You can shoot me as I’m standing,"
Said Paud O’Donoghue.

The captain gazed in wonder,
Then lowered his keen-edged blade.
"A rebel bold is this," he said,
"He’s fitting to degrade."
"Here men, unbind him,
My charger needs a shoe,
The King shall have a workman
In this Paud O’Donoghue."

Now to the forge young Paud has gone,
The yeomen guard the door
And soon the angry bellows
Is heard to snort and roar.
The captain stands with reins in hands
While Padraie fits the shoe.
And when ’tis on it’s short the shrift
He’ll give bold Donoghue.

The last strong nail is firmly clinched,
The captain’s horse is shod.
Now rebel bold thine hour has come;
Prepare to meet they God.
But why holds he the horse’s hoof?
There’s no more work to do.
Why clenches he the hammer so,
Young Paud O’Donoghue.

A volley from the muskets;
A rush of horses feet;
He’s gone and noon can capture
The captain’s charger fleet.
And in the night winds backward
Comes a mocking halloo!
Which tells the Yeomen they have lost
Young Paud O’Donoghue.

And still in Meath’s fair county
There are brave lads, not a few
Who would follow in the footsteps
Of Paud O’Donoghue.