From the first patron seeking refuge from cluttered days to encounter a rock n’ roll hug paired with a perfect pint, Sally Longs Rock Bar has offered welcome respite. Celebrating 36 years from its legendary location on Abbeygate Street, Sally Longs is a pillar of authenticity in Galway.
As Galway’s only dedicated rocker and biker bar, they've been reelin’ in the years with their steadfast patrons who have a true and burning love for the bar. Regulars and first timers alike agree that in changing times, a space like this is more essential than ever.
The bar beats with a fierce hum of familiarity and novelty, and continues to do so by welcoming in all walks of life. Sally Longs Rock Bar is a kaleidoscope of Galway’s bohemian and arts driven community culminating at a perfect pitch, creating the beloved bar we know today.
Outside, the powerful and iconic 'Rock Legends' mural is impossible to miss. Eric Clapton, Jim Morrison, Johnny Cash, Ozzy Osbourne and Jimi Hendrix are only a handful of the rock n roll giants immortalised on the wall. Sitting above all reclined and reaching towards God, Elvis imitates ‘Adam’ in an interpretation of Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Adam’. I believe this is truly Galway’s very own hallowed fresco of the famed and revered.
Step inside of Sally Longs and you're met with a vibrant buzz of chatter and the clacking of pool balls sinking into the pockets. The jukebox is on and playing an eclectic yet lively playlist, curated by the customers themselves.
Anything could be played, from Leonard Cohen’s ravaged voice waxing beautiful couplets to Phil Lynott’s masterful and poetic story telling candescent over a true rock and roll backdrop. Alice in Chains could be thrown in the queue, belting a heavy and metal infused track that reaches beyond grunge and penetrates the room with ‘90s alt-rock. Anything and everything could be played adding to a sense of a distinct yet easy going atmosphere.
The pints are flowing and people are settling into the high top bar chairs, allowing the sincerity of the night to stretch out before them. Here is a place for culture and collective. Sally Longs is a family owned bar, and for over three decades the O’Dwyer family has been embracing Galway’s locals and fostering this sense of community. Second generation family member Shane O’Dwyer took over managing the bar in 2019. With a deep devotion to the space, he hopes to continue its legacy in Galway.
Shane notes Galway’s distinct and independent flare. Sally Longs Rock Bar is one of the places in Galway that nourishes this niche. There’s something special that lives in Sally Longs, something that you can’t find everywhere else. By tuning into that, the bar has helped feed Galway’s beloved sense of weirdness and independence.
Although Shane says there is always something to be done, the ever-evolving nature of the space is coupled with the authenticity and genuineness of the bar. It’s a balance that is struck beautifully. There are exciting things to keep an eye out for as Shane is bringing in more live gigs, and more community based events to the bar. These bohemian and art driven spaces in Galway truly sustain the pulse of the city. Sally Longs is more than just a bar; it’s a hub for people to just simply be themselves, a sacred and often overlooked human need.
Sally Longs Rock Bar entices new customers to come through their doors, all the while maintaining the comfort ingrained in the bar offering retreat to regulars. There’s a source of power and nourishment that comes with being able to feel welcome and cared for. In changing times, we all need a place to go where the familiar night out is a fount of comfort. Sally Longs Rock Bar provides just that.
