In Gaelic Ireland, a bruiden (Old Irish pronunciation: [bruiðʲenʲ]) was a building offering shelter, drink and food, often translated as "hostel", "banqueting hall" or "inn.
"[1] A description in The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig (c. AD 800) describes one bruiden: "There were seven doors in each hall, seven roads through it, and seven fireplaces therein.
"[3] According to The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig, there were five or six major bruidne in Ireland: However, Fled Bricrenn (8th century) mentions the briuga Bricriu Nemthenga ("Poison-tongue").
[3] Sean's Bar in Athlone is located in a building parts of which have been dated to c. AD 900, with wattle and wicker walls.
Located near a crossing-point on the River Shannon, it claims to be Ireland's oldest pub and may be the site of an ancient bruiden.