World best pub in malaysia has mayo connections

A COMPANY which plans to open an ultra-modern bar at Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, this summer has won a prestigious award for its premises, Healy Mac's Bar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Malaysian Healy Mac's has been named as Best Irish Pub in the World (outside Ireland) in a competition run by the Irish Times.

Healy Mac's is one of a chain of seven pubs owned by Liam Healy, formerly from Barnatra, Belmullet, in Malaysia.

Mr. Healy is a member of a well known business family in Barnatra who run a supermarket and also are undertakers.

Liam Healy emigrated while a teenager and has lived in a number of countries since including Indonesia, Britain and the United States.

His firm has chosen Breaffy House Hotel in Breaffy, near Castlebar, as the location for its first Healy Mac's in Ireland. Reconstruction of the bar area is well underway and an opening is planned for early summer.

The general manager of Healy Mac's, Breaffy, is Crona Esler from Claremorris, a former journalist with the Western People.