'A Proper Pint' has put Sharkey's Bar on the map

THE Donegal Première of ‘A Proper Pint’ filmed in Sharkey’s Bar in Annagry is winning international awards and bringing customers from across the Atlantic to view one of the country’s longest family owned pubs with which some share a name.

The half hour long documentary came about after US company, also called ‘A proper Pint’, contacted the Vintners Federation of Ireland to inquire as to where the longest family owned pubs in the country were.

Sharkey’s Bar in Annagry qualified as they have been in the family for just under 150 years. Another pub of similar family vintage in Belmullet was also filmed.

Speaking to the Donegal News this week joint owner Michael Sharkey explained how the film was made and all that has happened since.

“Kevin Siegert arrived having discovered we were in the same family ownership for more than 100 years. It was pre-pandemic when he first got in touch. He wanted to film a traditional Irish pub and its place in the local community,” Michael said.

“He filmed here in the bar and around the locality as well as in Crolly Distillery. He spoke to John Devenney who shared the local history and the finished film went down a treat at the local première here. It was shown on Friday, Saturday and twice on the Sunday to packed audiences.

“Everyone loved it.”

Kevin Siegert has been producing documentary films and video for more than 30 years. His strong Irish heritage led to the creation of the film series, “A Proper Pint”, a film series that celebrates the generational nature of publicans and the integral bond of the Irish pub to the community around it.

Sharkey’s Bar got their first license in 1877 when Michael and his co-owner brother Joe’s great grandparents owned the bar. It then passed down to an uncle then to the current owners’ father, making it four generations.

“The locals were fine about being filmed during the making of it and many turned up to see the première three weeks ago and were very impressed with it, the scenery and the quality.

“The whole thing was very natural and we didn’t have to have make-up done for it,” Michael laughed.

The film first premièred in Phoenix Arizona in the Irish Cultural Centre and Michael, his wife Jackie, Joe and his wife Angela decided they would take up the invitation to attend and thoroughly enjoyed their first trip together.

Since its launch the film has won a number of international film awards taking one in Berlin and Paris. It was also shown in the Cyprus Film Festival.

The film makers are doing the international film festival circuit and hope that ‘A Proper Pint’ is picked up by the likes of Amazon Prime or some of the many scouts who attend the film festivals in the US and Europe.

Various people have called to the bar because they have seen a trailer of the film or have followed the bar’s story on Facebook.

Michael was surprised a couple of weeks ago when a couple from South Carolina whose names were Tom and Jackie Sharkey arrived to visit the bar.

A young couple sitting in the corner at the time explained that they had come from California and their names were Michael and Jackie Sharkey!

They were staying in Galway but made the journey to see the bar.

The Sharkey family hope to see many more visitors to the bar as a result of the film and their extensive following on Facebook.

“If we are still alive and well in 2027 we will celebrate 150 years of Sharkey’s Bar and have a big weekend to mark the occasion,” Michael concluded.

Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere