Shannon Musician Puts Turkish Pub On The Market

Business & Finance - Construction & Property

Friday, 01 October 2010 10:52

Written by Senan Hogan

A Co Clare musician has put his Irish pub and hotel in Turkey on the market for €5m.

Eamonn Lehane (50) is selling up to move from bustling Istanbul to the countryside with his Turkish wife and five-year-old daughter.

The James Joyce Irish bar and 18-room Shamrock Hotel have been gradually developed over the past 15 years and have a thriving trade just yards from the city’s famous pedestrian thoroughfare, Istiklal Street.

Lehane, from Shannon town, is a renowned fiddle player who has played all over Europe and also released a CD of his music.

He said: “My wife Gulsum and I have carefully built up this business over the past decade and a half and it is very successful. However we are in the middle of the Beyoglu entertainment district which is buzzing until 3 or 4am in the morning.

“Our daughter Eileen is five years old now and we feel it is better for us as a family to move to the country.”

The property is located close to cafes, clubs, boutiques, music stores, bookstores, art galleries and cinemas.

"There has already been strong interest from businesspeople in the United Arab Emirates," added Lehane.

The James Joyce bar, which is popular with visiting tourists and European ex-pats, is famous for its weekly traditional music sessions.