Welcome to Boyles Pub and Restaurant in the Historic Town of Dromore.

From the Gaelic 'Druim Mor' meaning “great ridge on the back of a hill” Dromore town can trace its roots back past the Norman Conquest to the 5th Century, when a Church was formed by St. Colman, subsequently this church became a monastery and now, since the reformation, it remains as the Anglican Cathedral Church of Christ the Redeemer.

A few hundred yards from the Town Hall there is a fine example of an ancient Motte and Bailey, which dates back to the Norman Conquest, and at the town hall there are “stocks” which were in daily use from 1805 'til 1886.

Nearby, the Viaduct stands, a monument to Victorian Engineering, its seven arches spanning the Lagan Valley, to serve the Local Branch Line Trains of yesteryear.

Boyles is situated in one of the most historic streets of the settlement.  In fact, we are now in what used to be the town centre, bustling with bakers, saddlers, grocers, blacksmiths and all the old trades associated with a busy market town.  Just in front of the restaurant the ruins of the tower of the  Old Castle can be seen.  This stone Tower-house was built  for the protection of Bishop Todd by his brother-in-law, William Worsley in the unsettled times around 1610, and soon thereafter the rest of Castle Lane emerged.  The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1836 go on to describe Dromore as having "narrow, dirty streets and the outskirts hilly".  The 264 houses  were “wretched looking hovels".

The whole of Castle Lane, (now Street), as with most of the lands around the Cathedral, were owned by the Church of Ireland up until 1826.  In the mid 1700’s where you are now sitting was a Saw Pit and Joiners workshop with attached accommodation.  There was right of way for the locals to the main water well for the settlement, just at the back of our restaurant, (it’s still there), and onward to Bridge Street .

And at some stage during this century the Raynold’s family converted the building into a hostelry, to serve the community living in the tenement style houses surrounding the Castle.  Exact records cannot be located for this change, however in 1823 the Church of Ireland passed title to the premises being used as an inn, to the first official spirit merchant landlord, Mr Robert Harrison.  We can safely say that there has been a continued use as Public House for well over 200 years, and perhaps up to 250.   In any event a building has been here since 1689. 
 
There are rumours and allegations of historic tunnels to aid escape from the Castle Tower, and of a great Burial Chamber or Medieval Burial Cave.  All traces of these have been lost with the passing of time.

The Bar and Restaurant has had many names throughout the years from the original “The Saw Pit”,  through many variations of "The Castle Bar", and the "Old Castle".  However, today it is named in honour of the family most folk associate with the Bar in recent years, the “Boyles”.