The Sunday World’s intrepid inspector of watering holes across the country, Pub Spy, paid a visit to Fermoy and Mitchelstown recently, and reported the merits and otherwise of four different premises in a recent edition.

Pub Spy wasn’t travelling solo, he had two colleagues with him, whom he described as ‘young commando’ and ‘Munster commando’.

The popular pub Cheers on MacCurtain Street got a good review, the bar tender’s work ethic was commended, and the reasonable cost of a mineral for Pub Spy’s driver was remarked upon.

Pub Spy liked the red brick counter, the red velvet bench seating and the floor tiles. Toilets were declared to be very clean.

Owner Paul McNulty’s ties to his native county Donegal were noted, with Pub Spy saying he felt as if he’d landed in Ballyshannon when he walked through the door to see a framed Donegal jersey and a Donegal licence plate hanging on the wall behind the bar.

TJ Goodtymes on MacCurtain Street was also paid a visit. Here they were commended for their pints of stout at €3.90 which Pub Spy reckoned tasted good and were well priced. The pub was also congratulated on a novel and fun initiative which it runs on Sunday evenings. It sees each customer who buys a drink between the hours of 6 and 9pm playing a game called ‘red and black’. If it lands on red the customer’s next drink is free. If it lands on black they pay.

Lombard’s on O’Neill-Crowley Quay was another stop off point. Here, it was said, the ‘young commando’ was reluctant to leave after taking a shine to the pretty foreign barmaid. “And who could blame him?” Pub Spy pondered, remarking “In fact we all could understand her more easily than the two local barmaids.”! No fault was found here with the furniture and the red and black floor tiles were said to be “immaculately clean.”

In Mitchelstown it was The Mulberry Tree that got a visit. Pub Spy said it was “a lovely pub.” The premises was declared warm with comfortable seating and a timber floor that was “spotlessly clean.” Toilets were also found to be clean and the exterior was remarked upon for its great condition.