Our Story – Rich in history, tradition, family spirit and full of character.

Kelly’s Inn, Garvaghey is one of Tyrone’s oldest and most famous bars and restaurants ideally situated on one of Ireland’s most ancient highways leading from Donegal in the west, Antrim in the north and Dublin in the south.
 
While Kelly’s Inn today still enjoys a reputation for playing host to well-known musicians and famous faces from the world of sport, the true charm comes from the wealth of local colourful characters who frequent Kelly’s Inn and enjoy its cosy, friendly atmosphere and of course the ‘craic’.
Kelly’s Inn delivers real traditional and excellent dining facilities to suit all manner of tastes and budgets. We’re only 1 hour from Belfast’s thriving city centre shopping, and 20 minutes from Omagh and Dungannon on the main road to Derry and Dublin right in the heartland of the Sperrins.
 
Pop in for a coffee or a Guinness, celebrate a party, plan your wedding, catch up with friends, stop off when you are touring, enjoy a romantic getaway, do some business or wine and dine with our delicious, locally sourced, fresh cooked food.
 
 
Where did it all begin?
Kelly’s Inn was started by Tommy and Annie Kelly who took over from the Higgins family when they married in 1937. Tommy was an auctioneer, undertaker and Justice of the Peace.
Originally there was a house incorporating a shop and a bar to the side of the house which would only have held a max of 8 people. There was also a filling station selling Petrol, TVO, and Diesel. The shop would only have sold the basics for a family and farm home at that time such as bread, flour, tea, sugar, animal meal, coal and so on.
 
Tommy and Annie had 8 children who all participated in the business from a young age. The Kelly children often remember their good turns over the years where they were made to rise in middle of the night to serve someone who had run out of petrol on their journey, many of whom were returning from music gigs in Omagh and who went on to become very famous, namely Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield,
 
Jim Aitkin, and the Plattermen. In the mid 50’s there were not many means of transport available to people and to accommodate the local community Kelly’s introduced a Grocery Van which travelled around the country side from Shantavney to Tattyreagh.
In the early 60’s socialising in pubs was only for Men however Kelly’s introduced a lounge bar, the first in the area which became known as the singing pub, frequented by both Women and Men. From the 70’s the trend evolved towards discos.
 
On Friday nights people travelled from far and near and many continue today to tell us their story of Romance and how they met their partner at ‘Kelly’s Disco’!! Throughout late 80’s and 90’s Kelly’s saw some vast changes. The filling station and Shop expanded to include a Post office and a wider range of grocery convenience products.
 
The Restaurant is now open all day to accommodate the weary traveller. There is an extensive menu available and 14 Luxury En Suite Bedrooms have been added. Finally the function room was expanded to host larger weddings and dinner dances making Kelly’s Inn a very flexible venue no matter what the occasion is.

Contact

Address

Kellys Inn,
232 Omagh Road,
Garvaghey,
Ballygawley,
Co Tyrone
BT70 2DX

Phone

028 8556 8218

Email

hospitality@kellysinn.com

Location

Call Us

028 8556 8218

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