We had the best time ever here over the TedFest weekend in February this year. We have been to Aran a number of times, we're from just outside Galway so travel here quite a bit.

It has recently been taken over by new owners, and fair play to them they have it all sussed out! TedFest was great craic, and Wattys offered a fantastic warm, welcoming atmosphere with plenty food, drink and great memories for all us nuns and priests to take home!

My husband and I honeymooned in Ireland, traveling from Galway to Dublin, following the coastline. Our poor bums were so sore from biking non-stop, all day, on the island, that we were so happy Joe Watty's was on a downhill trip for us. The food was fantastic. I had the fish and chips and my husband had the beef casserole.

We decided initially to split a pint of Guinness, but it was so delicious, we split another.At the end of the trip, on our flight home, and even now, that was the best damn pint of Guinness we had on the whole trip. You guys sure do know how to pour 'em. We hope to find ourselves in Ireland again soon.

We really enjoyed our visit to Ireland, and one of the high points was the day on the aran islands. The ancient fort was magnificent, and we had a very good meal at joe wattys pub on our way back to cone mara.

Keep it up you guys,

Bar with a welcoming heart Aran & Wattys Magic.

Having returned to the Aran Islands for the first time in 14 years, I was pleased to find it was still very much the old relaxing place it always has been despite the celtic tiger, people are still friendly, and theres a sence of being safe.

The last ferry leaves at 5 pm and then it seems anf feels the Island is your own.

We stayed in the 'Claí Bán'  Bed & Breakfast which was very nice and warm, central, close to everything, the lady of the house recommended Tí Joe Wattys for food ( which is only 2 minute walk away ).

Infact most other restaurants in the village had closed down for the winter, so I guess we were lucky there was somewhere serving food, even if it was pub grub, but still I was a little skeptical about pub grub but I need'nt have been, for it was such a treat, mid-november, Joe Wattys was so welcoming  and warm with a blazing open fire.

The staff here are just fantastic, happy, cheerful and ever so able, and really happy to see you.

Our waiter was so professional and recommended the Sea Bass  & Fresh Garlic Mussels which we savoured after 2 bowls of excellent soup.

Neither of us were able for dessert as we were quite full after 2 courses, but speaking to an american couple seated at a table next to ours, one had a Chocolate Brownie Cake and the the other had Bread & Butter Pudding with custard, I saw them being served they looked so inviting, they told us they tasted delicious, the waiter later told us all desserts are house made.

We were delighted with the standard of food & service and was great value for money.

My husband assured me the guinness was excellent also, so he ordered  another one and I decided to order a Baileys Coffee as I was so relaxed and just wanted to sit there and enjoy the atmosphere in front of the fire while listening to what seemed to be quite a large crowd of local customers speaking as Gaeilge, it was great to hear this and made one feel you were somewhere really special, and yes I could make out a cupla focal, even if its more years than I care to remember since I learned Gaeilge at school.

We had planned to go to bed early as we were quite tired after our long journey from west cork that day, but feeling so cosy we decided to stay a while and hear some of the music session which was about to begin, and then the night just got better and better.

We stayed till the wee hours listening to the most talented three young men play traditional music  as well as popular songs and ballads.

And we later enquired as to where these guys were from, found out they were local, the Hernon Brothers & Padraig Grace, the Hernon Brothers turned out to be the sons of the couple you operate the Claí Bán Bed & Breakfast ( our B&B ) such wonderful musicians & singers,

 such talent, we were most impressed and delighted to be able to buy a copy of their first CD, which I feel shall be the first of many.

We enjoyed a hearty Irish Breakfast at Claí Bán the following morning and man of the house Bartley arranged a Mini Bus Tour of the island for us.

The weather on this day was something awful rain and storm, but even still it could not hide the beauty that is Inis Mór - Aran, and as we sat in in Joe Mac's Bar sipping two hot whiskeys before we headed  for what I was afraid would be an awful journey back to the mainland ( but in fact was not all that bad, just as a crewman named Maitin Óg  assured me it would not be ) I said to myself it wont be another 14  years until my next visit, for we had a most wonderful two nights on Aran which brought back some lovely memories of years ago on our first visit, and created some fabulous new ones, Aran is indeed a Special Place as is Joe Wattys Pub.

Just came across your website which reminded me of a great weekend  I and a few friends had in aran last august

We had the best of craic at wattys, I could not believe a place can be so much fun and be so happy. and then to find out when  I got there and saw that one of my favourate live irish bands  wilful  ( I go to them in Smiths in Limerick all the time ) were playing there, they are a savage band better than U2 by a mile, they had the place raving mad such craic, and as many if not more dancing away in the front beer garden savage man savage.

We spent the weekend there and we found out that watttys was the place to be, great bar food  ( better than any restaurant ) but very afordable and great staff savage friendly do anything to make you feel welcome, and I fell in love,   I really love the girl Marta ( I want to marry her ) the best bar person in the world.

We did the other pubs of course, but Wattys  was the place such a happy happy place, and different music every night

Aran is majic we came across from doolin and the weather was'nt great but sure not a problem we marched on,  hired the ould bikes and walked my feet sore on the rocks, but it felt good, the locals are great  and up for the craic,  as were  the  2 Johns who played the day time sessions outside of wattys on saturday afternoon, just such savage craic

I was my first time in aran but wont be my last for sure, I see ted fest in on there in a few weeks must bring a gang out, and I nearly forgot a big thank you to Grace the lady of the house who brought some of us back to our B&B  in the wattys mini bus on one of the nights which was very wet and we could'nt find a taxi.

Well done Wattys we'll be back

Great spot for a nice bit of food followed by some good live music (Although I'm a bit skeptical as to whether one of the musicians was over 18 or not, but I don't think it really matters). I also had the delicious burger.

Without a doubt, the BEST craic I've ever had! Was in Inis Moir a couple of months ago with a gang of friends, heard of 'Wattys' (as its better known as) on the ferry on the way over. We checked into the hostel, found Wattys that Friday lunchtime and literally didn't leave until that Sunday evening. We ate and drank there all weekend. They do excellent food there all day, top class pub grub. We're all still raving about it, what a great spot, fantastic memories.

It honestly has it all,unreal beer garden (with even live music during the day) the staff were as laid back and completely up for the craic, when we asked the barmaid how she was: "Ara happy out!" was the reply....we did not doubt her! Wattys is a haven.

I highly recommend going there and experiencing for yourself the buzz, the live music (day and night it seems), the Watty burger (a feed and a half) and most importantly, the craic!
Thanks a million lads, see ye Ted Fest!