The Trappers Inn was open for Business in Christmas, 1968.
- Townland - Glenanail.
- Parish - Castlegar, Galway.
- Galway to Tuam Road the N17
- Administrative Area - Galway City Council.
- Coordinates - 53.289079 , -9.023547 (Degrees, decimal).
- Google Map - Street view.
- Elevation - 27 metres 88 Feet
- Facebook contact
- Telephone - (091) 751 228
- Restaurant - serving Food - Yes.
- A.K.A, Jackson's
- Parking - yes, and abundant.
- General Area - very good, respectable.
- Darts
- The Galway Races.
- Porter Guinness- the best in Town, arguably.
This began as a Field in the middle of nowhere - rural County Galway, back then, and administered by the County Authority. Harry Grealish, was the former land owner.
Paddy Jackson was a Civil Engineer locally - established himself and the development began.
A House - then a Flat - Roofed Bar, a North-East extension (Restaurant) and an upward extension (accommodation).
Along the way, Emily (Jackson) married Frank Linnane - and they raised a Family. Emmet, is one of those and runs the Business today.
Frank, was an accomplished Hurler, and Hurling was the fever of the time.
Sean Lemass and his Policies, opened up the Country to Foreign Direct Investment, and it led to the development of the Mervue Industrial Estate. The locality was booming in a relative sense, and Jackson's was well positioned. The "middle of nowhere", became busy - populated, and expansive.
The likes of Thermo King, the S.P.S., AnCO (Fas / So;as / Gretb), Nilands (now, Musgrave's) and Crown Control, brought additional Business to Jackson's.
Why the name of The Trappe's Inn ? Presumably, a theme..... and in the past more than now, stuffed wildlife was on display. There is still a 25 Pound Pike within a Glass Case.
The Restaurant is relatively new. We all know that Food and it's appeal is highly subjective but over time, this restaurant is stable, reliable and affordable. Kitty O Hehir, was the figure head for years and only left recently. Joe, is the current Chef, and reports suggest that he is doing a fine job.
The Bar is legendary - probably the finest Guinness in Town. Porter is not as whimsical as Food (not far off, you might argue?), is highly consistent, and somewhat predictable - reliable. The Building is deceptive - the Bar had a flat Concrete roof, remember. It is still there, but with another layer on top of it, and the Drink is still housed in a Cellar
The Staff, on balance, have always been from good, upwards. This is a testament to the wisdom of Frank, Emily and Emmet.
The conversations in Jackson's, can be so highly-charged in terms of width and depth, that it must have an unrecorded, unique status in the Ireland of today. Free Speech, confined only by the limit of general boredom. It is still this way, and a priceless quality - you would do well to notice it and notice the worth of it.....
Race Week at the Trappers.
Back when there was plenty of civility, and less law and order - Cars used to line the Tuam Road in a disorderly but acceptable way. There were less organised Buses, I suppose, and if you had a Car - you used it. You could park almost anywhere, and it was both a tested and proven practice. Local Pubs were minefields of social activity, and goldmines at the same time. Music, any sort of music, and no music at all - were all very suitable conditions, for a Race-goer. Likewise for Mc Hugh's, at 2 miles away. Hysteria and novelty, washed down with Porter - and it was great. 2005 maybe, the Trappers erected a Marquee or Tent structure, to contain the Race Week Crowd. The Clayton Hotel on the Monivea Road, opened in 2006. Drink driving Laws, were seen to be enforced. The first stop between the Racecourse and Town, became the Clayton, and with it came a shift in traffic behaviour, from the Tuam to the Monivea Road. The Race Course itself, focused on Car Parking, and got direct access onto the Dual Carraige way - other contributing factors.
The Mystery Folk performed in the Trappers Inn. You could not get inside the door on a Wednesday Night, after 8pm. Time frame - the 1970's. Genre - traditional.
"The fire engulfed the Riverside Commercial Estate on the Tuam Road on Saturday evening" - The Journal - May 14th, 2011. A number of other things happened that same night. Frank Fahy had a Fundraiser to support the purchase of a Defibrilator and was joined by his Musician colleagues. It was a productive night.
The Game of Darts, has a history here. The recessionary '80's, had no great effect hereabouts - local businesses were mainly unionised and wages were protected to some degree. The economic Crash of 2008 was profoundly different, and most of us were loaded with debt, and had no Union support. The Hurlers didn't do anything too dramatic, the Soccer world continued, and the Darts found a revived life - a renewed attention, if you will. There is an annual Darts Tournament to honour Jimmy Sullivan (2011) and Brendan Dowling -R.I.P., 2014
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- Closed on the 15th of March 2020, due to a Covid 19 appeal towards the Hospitality Sector. It reopened as restrictions eased on a 5 Day Week basis in 2021 (Dec. '20 to Oct. '21 - excluding Mondays and Tuesdays.