Restaurant - Pangur Ban Catering & Cookery School, Letterfrack, Connemara, Co. Galway

Unfortunately, Pangur Bán Restaurant closed in 2008 but chef John Walsh is available for catering, runs a cookery school and his produce can be bought at several markets in the locality.

The restuarant opened in 1999 and was run for 10 years by John, who's training in Ireland and experience gained both at home and abroad (in Australia, England and the U.S.) was evident in the restaurant's distinctive menu. Pangur Bán served it's customers the freshest and tastiest food in Connemara. Deft little touches were given to fresh local ingredients in an exotic array of dishes. From hand-baked bread to decadent desserts, all dishes were prepared in the kitchen from scratch, with great care being taken to vary the menu.

John now sells a range of freshly made breads, cakes, quiches and pies at the markets in the area. Look at our Markets page for details.

This poem was found in the margins of a manuscript in the Monastery of St. Paul, Carintia, Austria. Written by an Irish Monk, 8th/9th Century.

I and Pangur Bán, my cat,
'Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight,
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
'Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

'Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur's way;
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

'Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
'Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den,
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Bán, my cat and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.

Pangur Bán Catering & Cookery School
Letterfrack, Connemara, Co. Galway, Ireland

About the Restaurant