'Hen's Den' opens in Bentley Bar

Popular Derry barman, Garvan ‘Hen’ Henderson, passed away suddenly in September during a holiday to Portugal with his friends.

Hen had been in Portugal to celebrate his 50th birthday but sadly died the day before reaching that milestone.

As a tribute to his lifelong friend, Tony O’Connor, owner of the Bentley Bar in the city centre where Hen was the longest serving member of staff, has renamed part of the bar ‘Hen’s Den’.

Declan Villa, manager of the Bentley Bar, with Garvan 'Hen' Henderson memorial cabinet in Hen's Den.

Speaking to Derry Now, Tony said Hen had worked in the part of the Bentley called the Linen Room, where all the regulars go.

Tony added: “Hen was very well got in there. He had his own clientele who came in to see him all the time. So, when we were thinking of a way to honour Hen’s memory, we decided to rename the Linen Room to ‘Hen’s Den’. We renamed the wee bar down at the Cosh ‘Sparky’s Snug’ when our friend Brian Harkin died, so we thought we would do the same thing for Hen.

“We decided on ‘Hen’s Den’ and we asked his family if they would be okay with that and they were over the moon.

“We wanted to do the renaming on a Sunday when Man United were playing. That was Hen’s team. When I rang Hen’s sister, Karen, to see if April 16 would suit, she said, ‘You are not going to believe this, that is my mammy’s birthday’. It was also Karen’s son Rory’s birthday. What a coincidence. So everything fell into place.

“All Hen’s family and all our friends, the people who were in Portugal when he died, were there on Sunday watching the United match and we got a few photographs. It was a great wee day. It was a nice tribute to Hen,” said Tony.

The family and friends of Garvan 'Hen' Henderson at the official opening on Hen's Den Snug.

Hen’s sister, Karen, said as a family we feel really proud and privileged to have Garvan’s legacy live on with the opening of ‘Hen’s Den’.

“I think ‘Hen’s Den’ will be around even when we are not around. It is just a great honour and tribute.

Friends of Garvan 'Hen' Henderson at the official opening of the Hen's Den snug.

“As a family we are overwhelmed by everything that Tony and the Bentley group have done to remember Garvan, as a friend and colleague. Every day there is something different, there is another wee bit added or somebody has said something or done something or there is another tribute.

“Sunday was absolutely beautiful. It was very dignified. Very well done. It was my mammy’s birthday and my son, Rory’s birthday, on the same day, so it all worked out really well. It was like a lovely birthday present for them.

“‘Hen’s Den’ is going to become a wee meeting place too for the whole extended family, so, if ever we have a family get together, we will all meet up in ‘Hen’s Den’”