The Hole inthe Wall

The Hole in the Wall occupies a building on Market Street in Armagh said to date to 1615, when it served as a gaol; the pub's name recalls the opening in its wall through which prisoners' families once passed food and letters. Owner Joanne McCall runs it as a small, family-run bar behind the historic frontage, with low ceilings, exposed beams and an open fire giving the front room the feel of a snug rather than a big-city bar. Live music plays on Friday and Saturday nights, and the pub is a regular stop on Market Street for a quiet daytime pint as much as weekend trade. It stands apart from the chain-owned bars nearer the Mall, trading instead on its own history and a settled local crowd.