Howya! Gordon McCrae (Garavan’s Bar)

Did you know that Galway is home to a diverse array of fascinating characters? This vibrant city is full of unique personalities, and we’re giving you the chance to meet some of them. Join us as we say Howya! to some of Galway's most interesting figures. This month, we had the pleasure of chatting with a famous Galway Tiktok star as he shares his Christmas traditions, tells us about the best parts of his job, and let's us in on a secret..

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Q. Tell us about yourself.
I’m Gordon McCrae, originally from Kinsale in Cork, and I’ve been part of the team at Garavan’s Bar for more than ten years. I’ve been known to pop up on TikTok every so often, usually wearing something ridiculous behind the bar. I love the buzz of the job, and when I get a break, my wife and I like to head off on a Caribbean cruise.

Q. What do you love about your job?
It’s a busy spot with great energy, and I’ve seen the place grow a lot over the years. I take pride in what I do and in being part of such a well-known Galway pub.

Q. What’s your favourite winter warmer?
My own mulled wine recipe. Back home in Cork, I used to do the Christmas morning swims to raise money for different charities, and we’d always have a hot mulled wine afterwards to warm up. Now I make my own in Garavan’s every year. It brings back good memories of those mornings and has become a nice little tradition here too.

Q. What’s your favourite thing to do in Galway at Christmas time?
When my family visits from Cork and Clare, we always go to the Christmas markets. I love the atmosphere, the lights, the music, and the crowd. I even went on the carousel horses once and had better fun than the kids! Galway at Christmas has a great buzz about it.

Q. Where’s one place you think everyone should visit in Galway?
The Cathedral. It’s a big part of Galway and means a lot to the city. It’s a beautiful place to visit, it’s very peaceful, and is somewhere that really shows the heart of Galway.

Q. Can you tell us about one of your highlights from 2025?
It’s hard to pick one! I celebrated 20 years of marriage this year, which was a big one. My mother turned 83, and my niece graduated from college. It’s been a good year all round.

Q. What does Christmas mean to you?
Family, friends, and a good dinner. I love making Christmas dinner and always make an extra plate for my Jack Russell, Mandy. It’s the one day of the year when everyone slows down a bit, sits together, and enjoys the day.

Q. Quick! You’re under the mistletoe - who’s getting the shift?
My wife, obviously! If it were anyone else, I’d be in trouble.

Q. Tell us a secret…
The secret ingredient in my mulled wine is a drop of Port. Don’t knock it till you try it.

Q. If you could have one wish granted this Christmas, what would it be?
Just that family and friends have a happy, healthy Christmas and a good year ahead. That’s all I’d want.

Photos by Ciarán MacChoncarraige.