My friend tipped me off that this joint has Kilkenny Irish Ale, my favorite beer--which I cannot get in the United States. Then when I booked my hotel I found that this was three blocks away, so I found myself in here twice during my short stay. As it turned out, lots of bars had Kilkenny, but I came here anyway.
It certainly is handsomely decorated, and much has been made of the old bank setting. However, I feel that the layout is a detraction: basically you have a big, square, open room. This leads to a lot of noise and a wide-open, airy sort of aesthetic; basically the antithesis of a classic Irish pub. In fact, it feels more like a restaurant and not at all like a pub. They have a lot of standard two- and four-top tables and a few high round tables, but no traditional pub seating. No snugs, no booths, etc. With the numerous TVs and the loud buzz, it feels really like a fancy Irish sports bar and grill.
But that's okay if that's what you're in the mood for--just don't go expecting a traditional pub. I spent a couple of hours here over two nights, and had a few good pints and an Irish whiskey. They have about a dozen of the former and two dozen of the latter. There were several intriguing varieties that I'd never heard of but I had been wanting to try the Bushmills 1608 (400th anniversary edition) and it did not disappoint. Silky-smooth, honey, clove, caramel...mmm.
One final note bumps them to four stars: my last night in town I approached the manager to see if I they would sell me a Kilkenny pint glass, telling him of my love of the brand. He went behind the bar, took a clean one, and handed it to me--gratis--saying "Cheers, enjoy." What a generous and totally unexpected gesture. I would have been happy to pay a fair price for it. That really tickled me pink.