The Humbert Inn was probably one of the most famous pubs (if not the most famous) in Castlebar. The pub closed in September 2006 and has been a clothes shop since.
The pub was named after the French general, General Humbert who won a famous battle on the streets of the town in 1798 where his forces beat the British Red Coats in a battle known as The Races of Castlebar. After that battle, General Humbert declared the Republic of Connaught and pronounced John Moore its president while enjoying a victory banquet upstairs next door in Geevy's Hotel which now is Patrick Fahey's shop. The two buildings were one at the time and General Humbert stayed in the hotel.
When the buildings were split in two, the licensed side was called The Inn. In 1904, it operated as a bar and grocery and was called The Connaught Bar. It was sold again in 1913 and was renamed Humbert House. It changed hands in 1938 before being bought in 1947 by Tom Coucill who changed the name to the Humbert Inn. Tom painted a famous oil painting that hung there until it closed in 2006, a piece he called "The Races Of Castlebar". He also hung a sign that lasted until closing day too which read, "The Pub is the Poor Man’s University". Tom retired in 1973 and it was taken over by his nephew, Liam Moran. A restaurant was opened upstairs in the 1980s called Sarrazins. Sarrazin was Humbert's second in command at the battle in 1798.
The Humbert Inn was known far and wide as a musical haven. Irish folk singer, Mary Black, started her singing career here in the 1970s. She was a member of a band that played there, aptly called General Humbert. The band was made up of Steve Dunford (bodhran and bones), John Donegan (mandolin and harmonium), Ruairí Somers (uileann pipes, tin whistles, and bagpipes), Shay Kavanagh (guitar and bouzouki), and Mary Black herself (vocals and bodhran).
The pub was sold in 1994 and continued to be a hot spot for music of all kinds. Eventually, in 2006 the doors closed for the final time as a pub and a farewell weekend of music was held on 1st, 2nd, 3rd of September that year. A reunion of musicians and patrons called "Humbert Inn Reunion 1798 to 2006 and Beyond" was held in Castlebar in September 2016.
