BIG READ: 'Family, community, and resilience,' Tipperary pub to celebrate 140 years

This year, we are proud to celebrate 140 years of Brett’s Pub on The Square in Mullinahone — a place that has remained in the Brett family for five generations and continues to be at the heart of our community.

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The story begins in 1885, when John Brett and Ellen Coady, originally from Poulacapple, opened a grocery, hardware, and pub here on the Square, alongside running a farm.

Before this, in 1882, they had opened a grain store in Mullinahone (where Meehan’s shop now stands) and a hardware store on Kickham Street.

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This set the foundation for a family legacy that would last generations.

John and Ellen’s son, Patrick Brett, married Kate McCormack from Ballingarry, and together they had four children: Jack, Edgie, Patrick, and Ellen (Nellie).

Patrick continued the family business, running the pub, grocery, hardware, and farm.

Tragedy struck in 1917, when Patrick passed away just three days before his mother Ellen.

At the time, Edgie was only 14 and still in school, while Nellie, just six years old, would later go on to work in the grocery and pub. She continued to live there for many years after finishing school.

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Jack, the eldest of the four children, helped manage the family business after their father’s death. A talented athlete and committed volunteer, he joined the IRA in December 1917.

On 21st November 1920, he lined out for Tipperary at left full-forward in Croke Park on the day that would become known as Bloody Sunday, when British forces opened fire on the crowd, killing 14 civilians including his teammate Michael Hogan. From that day, Jack never again returned to ordinary life in Mullinahone.

A marked man, suspected by the British military and the R.I.C. of I.R.A. activity, he went on the run, joining Flying Columns first in Dublin and later in West Kilkenny.

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Despite the risks, he remained deeply involved in local operations.

He took part in the Nine Mile House ambush, after which the Black and Tans descended on Brett’s Pub and Grocery in Mullinahone — the same premises that is still our pub today, long known as “The Stack of Barley,” and more commonly these days simply called “The Stack.”

They looted everything they could lay hands on, smashed bottles, threw goods into the street, drank from the shelves, and carried off £150 in cash.

When Jack and his comrade Bill Coady returned from the ambush that night, they could do nothing but watch from the shadows as his family’s livelihood was ransacked before their eyes. This account is recorded in Jim Maher’s book In the Shade of Slievenamon: The Flying Column, West Kilkenny 1916–1921.

Tragedy struck soon after. On 6th April 1921, while in hiding at Castlejohn, Windgap, Jack was accidentally shot while cleaning his revolver.

What followed was a remarkable tale of secrecy and devotion. His comrades, determined to protect both his remains and his reputation, first buried him quietly in Lamogue graveyard near Windgap.

When word reached the British military and searches of local cemeteries began, the Volunteers exhumed his coffin under cover of night and reburied him in a tilled turnip field on Ned Maher’s farm at Cussan, disguising the site so it could not be found.

Only after the Truce of July 1921 could his body finally be brought home.

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On 25th August, his remains were carried in solemn procession through Callan to Mullinahone, where he was laid to rest in St Michael’s Cemetery.

It was estimated that 30,000 people passed through Callan that day in what was described as the largest funeral ever seen in County Kilkenny.

Today, a monument in the Square in Mullinahone stands in his honour, alongside fellow Volunteers Seán Quinn and Jim Egan.

And though Jack gave his life for Ireland, his family and community ensured that Brett’s Pub — “The Stack” — survived, rebuilt, and remained at the heart of village life.

Patrick’s brother, Thomas Brett, acted as guardian to the children and ran the business until Edgie became of age.

Their mother, Kate McCormack, later left for Australia with W. Brett, the shop manager (noted in the Kilkenny Moderator at the time as her second husband).

This left the children entirely in Thomas’s care. We are forever thankful to him — without his dedication, while also running the grain store at the same time, the business would not have survived during that difficult period.

After these events, Edgie eventually took over the family business. It must have been incredibly difficult for him, taking on the responsibility of the pub, grocery, hardware, undertakers, and farm after the death of his father and the loss of his brother — all while still so young.

In 1937, Edgie married Statia Egan, whose brother, Jim Egan, had also played centre back on Bloody Sunday before tragically being killed by pro-Treaty Free State forces in April 1923.

Edgie and Statia ran the hardware, grocery, undertakers, pub, and farm. Statia brought warmth and music to the pub, playing the accordion, dancing with customers, and hosting Sunday night card games in her sitting room with friends.

Edgie and Statia had five children: Kay, Paddy, John, Ned, and Tom. Ned took over the hardware and undertakers, and his son Ronan later took over the hardware and undertakers and went on to open a second hardware and home & garden DIY in Callan.

Ned sadly passed away in November 2023.

Tom took over the pub, introduced live music, ran a bookies for many years alongside the pub, and continues to work there to this day at 79 years old, celebrating his 80th birthday next March.

We also remember Tom’s wife, Mary, who sadly passed away from cancer in February 2016, just before her 65th birthday.

Today, we — Eamon and Kim Brett — are proud to carry the torch.

Kim, originally from Chicago, has brought fresh ideas, tasty food options, and themed events that have gone down a treat with locals and visitors alike. Together, we’re raising our four children in the same village where our story began.

Over 140 years, Brett’s Pub — The Stack — has seen generations grow, communities celebrate, and countless memories made.

From war and hardship to music and celebration, it has stood as a constant in the life of Mullinahone. We want to sincerely thank everyone who has worked in the business through the years and the many customers who have supported us — past, present, and future.

Please join us on Saturday, 23rd August 2025, as we celebrate 140 years of Brett’s Pub — a story of family, community, and resilience that we are proud to continue.