our story
so here's
the craic.
After years of talking, we set about recreating what the Irish public house means to a community and began building something we hoped would one day become iconic to our hometown of Dundalk.
mo chara
a story best told over a stubby
mo chara — which means 'my friend' in Irish — is still used on occasion around the town as a casual way to greet your mate. We thought this was the perfect name for a pub started by old friends to make loads of new ones.
Opened in July 2021, mo chara is well on its way to achieving that iconic status we dreamt of — with people making the pilgrimage from all across the country.
mo's lager
Not a lot of people know but before a pub was ever on the cards the initial plan for mo chara was for it to be a brewery.
Unfortunately, we realised we didn't have a spare couple of million lying around and decided opening a pub first and launching our own beer after would stand to us in the long run. mo's lager first touched the lips of the public in 2023 and is the culmination of everything we dreamt of doing.
a hub and a pub
mo chara is a place where folks come together, share ideas, and give a nod to the thinkers, do-ers and local legends of the town, hosting all kinds of events.
Everything from packed Sunday markets with local vendors to comedy nights featuring the country's top acts, kitchen pop-ups by the best chefs in Ireland and secret gigs by bands like The Mary Wallopers.
big collabs
beamish · new balance · edwin · umbro
If there's one thing we've learned, it's that unexpected brand collaborations get people talking. From sell-out drops to features on Hypebeast, LADbible, JOE.ie and beyond - they've become a big part of what we do!
Lilywhite Lounge
In 2026 we were given the opportunity to take over the bars in Dundalk FC's Lilywhite Lounge - how could we say no?
We've been supporters of the town since we were young fellas and, when we realised very quickly that we weren't going to be players, the dream evolved into one day becoming a proud sponsor of the club.
With all of the positivity around the club this year, we felt the timing was right. When the club asked if we'd be interested in taking on the bars for the season, it was a no-brainer.
This is all about getting people back up to Oriel, improving the matchday experience, and doing our bit to support the club and the town we love.
what's next
the Mo-Tel
Our goal has always been to cement Dundalk as the centre of the universe. With so much going on in our little town, and people travelling from all over the world to visit, when the opportunity came up to buy an old dentist's practice six doors down, we knew we couldn't pass it up.
Our goal is to restore this Georgian-style building from the late 1800s back to its original glory and turn it into a boutique hotel, or a Mo-tel (get it?).
It's a big project, but sure don't we love a bit of hard work!
On top of this, there's a coach house out the back where you used to park your horse and cart, and we're hoping to turn this into an organic wine bar with small plates for all you classy folks out there!
recognised.
Louth Pub of the Year
2022
Irish Craft Bar of the Year
2024 · 2025
Most Innovative
Irish Restaurant Awards
2025
Best Use of Social Media
Irish Restaurant Awards
2026