The Belle Vue on Cork’s northside will be sadly missed
14:52, 27 Jul 2026Updated 15:05, 27 Jul 2026
The Belle Vue Bar on Old Youghal Road
Two much-loved Cork bars closed their doors this weekend, both top class locals with a great welcome and a lot of character.
It was last call for The Belle Vue, across from Collins Barracks on the Old Youghal Road. The pub has been an important part of the community for over 200 years. And in Macroom, Mary Anne’s bar is taking what the owners hope is a temporary break as they deal with a family illness.
The Belle Vue will be a big loss for the Military Hill/St. Luke’s area, as it had become one of Cork’s most characterful bars after opening in the post-COVID era. CorkBeo spoke to the owners and took a tour a few years ago.
Under the care of husband-and-wife team Anth Kaley and Ruth Cagney, who took the bar over in 2021, The Belle Vue offered friendly, welcoming service for locals and visitors alike. The couple are now moving on, but there are hopes the Belle Vue may return shortly under different management.
Speaking to Cork Beo, Ruth said: “We’ve come to the end of our tenure and we’re not going to continue our lease. There’s no animosity, and we haven’t run out of money, we’ve just decided we’re not going to continue.”
The pub was known for its live music, with sing-alongs on a Thursday, and blues on a Saturday night, and its cosy atmosphere, which often felt like having a pint in someone’s living room.
Ruth said: “It’s emotional. We’ve had a lovely time here. We have a great landlady and great customers.”
While it’s the end of the road for this version of The Belle Vue, Ruth is optimistic for the future, adding, “You never know where we’ll pop up.”
Elsewhere, in Masseytown, Macroom, Mary Anne’s, known locally as “the fisherman’s bar”, closed its doors on Saturday in what locals hope is a temporary pause while the owner of the family-run bar recovers from illness. Good wishes have been pouring in for owner Tom, also known as ‘Swanky’ to his many friends in the town.
Mary Annes – “The Fisherman’s Pub”, Macroom (Image: Mary Anne’s Macroom )
Their fellow publicans, owners of Dineen’s Bar, also of Macroom, took to social media to say: “As the door closed in Mary Anne’s Bar last night, hopefully only for a temporary length of time, we want to wish Tom a speedy recovery, and Rose, Darren and Shane the strength to help Tom in his recovery.”
“The pubs in Macroom have always pulled together and helped each other out. To see one closing, especially under the circumstances, is sad and is a big loss to our pub community. I always think of the “snow days”… it brought out the best in every publican. Anyone who had extra stock gave it to any pub running short. We don’t consider ourselves competitors; we are friends.”
They continued: “Mary Anne’s had their own niche of customers, as pubs generally do, and these customers are really at a loss now. It is just something you never see coming. All the very best, Swanky. Please God you’ll get back to your beloved Mary Annes. From all of us here in Dinneens.”