Liam and Noel Gallagher's local Mayo publican speaks out over Oasis reunion: 'I'm delighted they're back'
The brothers have roots in Ireland, with their late grandmother Margaret hailing from Charlestown in Mayo.
THE owner of Liam and Noel Gallagher’s local pub has said he would be “delighted” to see the brothers back together again - as speculation is rife an Oasis reunion is set to be announced.
The brothers have roots in Ireland, with their late grandmother Margaret hailing from Charlestown in Mayo. John Finan has run JJ Finan’s pub and hardware store since 1953.
Liam and Noel Gallagher’s late grandmother Margaret, who died in 2000, was a popular figure around the pub and local community.
READ MORE: Dad of Liam and Noel Gallagher could become homeless and eyes Meath move
READ MORE: Mayo publican explains how Liam Gallagher helped his pub Live Forever
John told us: “I’m delighted they are getting back together. I haven’t seen Liam for a couple of years. He hasn’t been home in a while. The last time he was in he played the guitar and if he’s around, he’d always come in.
“But he was here, and he is a very nice fella and Noel was here as well. The grandmother used to be in.
“I wouldn’t get involved with family stuff, but they are two nice lads to me, that’s all I know. When I met them, they were very sociable towards me, they were very nice to me. I’m delighted they are back together again.”
Mr Finan’s family have run JJ Finan’s since 1953 and the proud owner credits Liam for tourists flocking to the bar after the pub was featured in his As It Was documentary.
The documentary sees Liam reigniting his old feud with brother Noel and declaring that his music was reborn in the west of Ireland.
John said it put his pub on the map. “We’ve a few photographs in here of them…. A lot of people come in and take a few photographs.” John said he would love to see the brothers walk through his doors again for a pint, saying the last time they had pints was at their grandmother’s funeral in 2000.
He said: “It would be grand to have them back. The last time they were together was the grandmother’s funeral. That’s a few years ago. They set themselves up at the bar and had a couple of glasses of Guinness with a customer of mine. We’d a great, lovely evening.
“The grandmother used to be here so the fact that they did that showed a lot of respect for me in doing that and they showed a lot of respect for their grandmother by doing that.
“I was delighted to have them that evening. They’re a lovely family,” he said. In 2019, John told us that he remembers the emotional impact of Margaret’s passing on the local community at the time.
“Their grandmother Margaret Sweeney was so special to me; the night she died I was crying,” he told the Irish Mirror. “She used to give me a few quid for my young lad for birthdays and Christmas, that’s one of the reasons I like the lads – they come from decent people.
“The day of the burial Noel and Liam had a grand time here, they sat down talking to a lad in the bar for a good hour and had a bit of craic with him.”
The 70-year-old said in 2019: “Anytime he (Liam) came to Mayo he liked to come here, he went to every pub in the town and loved to play a game of pool with the locals.
“We’d some good nights in here and I appreciate the man; my bar trade is gone, rural society is falling down, you can’t drink and drive and Liam has put us back on the map.
“He brought a good few tourists and stag dos in, people are asking me if Liam drinks here.
“I’m going into retirement in a few years myself, so it’s a big boost that our pub is being featured in the new film. He’s done me a lot of favours singing in the pub a few years ago with the locals.”
Fans have been in hysterics after brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher teased an unexpected comeback after sharing a post on their social media accounts as well as the band’s website. Both brothers posted a short clip in the font and style of the band’s logo which reads: “27.08.24″, before then reading: “8am.”
Elsewhere, Oasis have been backed to play Croke Park ahead of speculation the band are set to reunite 15 years after they split up. Bookies Boylesports has made Croke Park the 8/15 odds-on favourite to be the venue of choice in Ireland for an Oasis comeback gig.
Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of the iconic album ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’ and recent press reports have suggested Oasis are lining up 20 live shows across London and their hometown of Manchester.
While Croke Park is being tipped to play host to the band in Ireland, Wembley is the 8/11 favourite to be the venue of choice for the first of the Oasis reunion gigs, while Manchester’s Heaton Park is a close 5/4 second favourite.
According to the bookmakers, it’s just 6/4 that Oasis play over eight concerts at Wembley, which would blow Taylor Swift’s eight-concert Eras Tour record out of the water, and it’s an almost unbackable 2/9 that Oasis will headline Glastonbury next year.
“When it comes to what banger the band will choose to open with, Rock N Roll Star is the 2/1 favourite with BoyleSports to top the band’s 2025 setlist, with Be Here Now (4/1) and Roll With It (5/1) also in the running.
“It’s expected that the brothers will keep their most iconic tunes like Wonderwall and Whatever until later in the set with both belters chalked up at 25/1.,” Boylesports said.
Sharon McHugh, spokeswoman for BoyleSports, added: “Excitement is reaching boiling point with an Oasis reunion now looking more likely than ever. Some Might Say the Gallagher brothers are just the shot of adrenaline that the music industry needs!” After the Times posted the article on X, formerly Twitter, a fan said Heaton Park is a “terrible venue for concerts”, with Liam responding: “See you down the front.”
When another asked when the reunion dates will be announced, he replied: “Next Friday.” The rocker also tweeted on Sunday morning that he “never did like that word FORMER”.
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
