Cross Keys, Historic pub in Toomebridge, Northern Ireland.
The Cross Keys is a pub in Toomebridge built with traditional thatched roofing, wooden beams, and stone walls dating from the 1600s. Its original architecture remains visible today, shaping how the building looks and feels.
The Cross Keys was built in the 1600s to serve travelers on the Belfast-Derry route, marking it as a stopping point along a major thoroughfare. Scientific testing by university researchers confirmed these origins and the building's age.
The Cross Keys brings together musicians who play traditional Irish music, keeping folk melodies and stories alive through regular gatherings. Visitors experience how these musical traditions remain woven into the everyday life of the place.
The pub welcomes visitors during regular opening hours, with straightforward access and a layout that follows its original structure. The space is easy to navigate, and visitors can experience the building much as it has existed for centuries.
After a fire destroyed parts of the building in 2000, local musicians recorded and sold albums to fund its restoration. This community effort reveals how deeply musicians and residents are connected to the place.
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