ruining pubs

Well this brings us back to the basic fundamentals of how some buildings succeed and some buildings fail. I mean a house perhaps should look like a ‘homely house’ and not a factory, a hotel should resemble a hotel and not a hospital or utility room, government buildings should perhaps have an air of importance and not be just an insignificant office block…..etc. However what did Le Corbusier say again ‘the house is a machine for living in’….which was quite successful on the continent of Europe but not in Britain or Ballymun, Dublin where the ‘barbarian’ Irish could not grasp the new concept.

Well, then have they done their market research? Have they discovered that in a booming economy what we want is the Chique, the sophisticated, the pub that looks like our workplace? A pub which co-ordinates nicely with an Audi TT rather than a Dubliner’s record.

I think the former scenario caters to the people with lots of dosh!

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND AND BE BLESSED.

Ref : The Pubs of Dublin 8.

I write to inform you of the greatest district in Dublin for “real pubs” and where for the most one can enjoy a quiet pint with the exception of the odd T.V.

Without doubt I recommend a visit to the front snug of O’Donoughue’s On Emmet Road Inchicore otherwise known as the Glen / The Hill / Jack’s and if the TV is on just ask Brian, Liam or Darren to turn it off they normally oblige. The back bar is still essentially a male preserve but the odd female is tolerated as long as she is appreciative of the very rural atmosphere of this the finest shop in Inchicore / Dublin 8. After a few pints here you’l already be looking forward to your return. Incidently this was a favourite pub of Brian Lenihan where he often dropped in to enjoy a quiet pint in privacy like any other local.

I must say that the last of the old Dublin boozers are still to be found in Inchicore i.e. The unique men ( men of iron / railwaymen ) only bar of the Black Lion . Also the most unique old bar / old coaching house of The Richmond House / Mc Dowell’s – the old bar area and the front snug (where the more mature female customers still enjoy their glass) are from a bygone age. Also The Great Southern & Western Railway Inn / Cleary’s on Sarsfield Road is a great old railway shop.

In Kilmainham ( the very rural Royal Oak on Kilmainham Lane, May Murray’s on Bow Bridge ) a must is the little “railway carriage“ room at the back and if you want to try a really eccentric but real old Dublin shop head for The Black and Amber / Dillon’s on Islandbridge and observe the unique Jem Dillon in action. Sit up on the nearest available bar stool (always plenty at the bar ) and enjoy a great pint of Guinness in the company of no more than 10 locals (in this architectural throwback to the 60s) when it’s bedlam in trendy Ryan’s further down in Parkgate Street. Ryan’s is a great afternoon shop but come the evening one is sure of a worn plastic covered stool and Jem’s or Mrs Dillon’s undivided attention in the unique sanctuary of the Black and Amber. Jack Charlton made Jem an offer he did refuse for the premises as he’s happy looking after his unique small band of locals in his mile long shop. Here again women are encouraged to sit “beyond the bar”.

All the pubs along James / Thomas St. are brewery pubs and each one pocesses it’s own uniqueness and ambience (the good the bad and the ugly) and are special in that the Guinness travels only a few yards from Arthur’s (James’s Gate) to the taps. A few I’d recommend would be The Barn Owl, The Malt House and Hanlon’s on James’s St.

After some experience on the streets venture into the area known as “The Pipes” ( the back of the brewery) have one in The Brewery Bar on Pim St The Old Harbour and Ryan’s near the old Guinness barge dock ( now filled in ) , after much experience venture into O’Reillys –
( bring a flashlamp as it’s always pretty dark!! ) – on James’s St the nearest pub to the world famous entrance to Guinnesse’s i.e. James’s Gate and run by a great Cavan man from Kilashandra (my mother’s hometown ) Tommy O’Reilly.

On Thomas St. worth a visit are The Clock and Baker’s – great atmosphere when the dealers are out in force on saturday afternoons. Incidently Guinness’s are presently constructing a huge visitors centre at the back of “The Pipes” which will contain a mega panorama bar on top of the old Victorian brewery building – I’ll probably go once – once it’s finished. You’ll be spoiled for choice in the Liberties especially along Francis St (Liberty Belle and The Dean Swift), Meath St (Ryan’s and Bohan’s). On the Coombe what is still a great old Dublin shop but alas now filled with tourists sipping an eternal glass of Guinness and filling in their eternal postcards- the one and only Fallon’s. Near to Fallon’s on Mill Lane you’l find a well run pub called The Tenters around the corner in Newmarket Sq. you’l find a bar where all the world resides The Red Lion. Just a minute or two and up into Cork St and back to reality in the now threathened (by road widening) Gaffney’s Weaver’s Sq., The Ardee House / Jones’s (great taximen ballad session here on a monday ) on Chamber St. and Lowe’s at Dolphin’s Barn .

Also on Cork St check out Morrissy’s and a great name for the Coombe The Stork, shops that are a little rough around the edges, in need of a lick of paint and full of “characters” (long may they stay as they are), another few years and proposed road “improvements” will also see them disappear to be remembered “as the rare old times”.

We’re blessed and very fortunate in Dublin 8 that we must have the highest density of pubs / Sq. yd. in the world and all within walking distance of home and all the famous sites of Old Dublin. There are more to be found along the lenght of the S.C.R., (Plimblico, Rialto, Portebello !!!) and around Blackpitts but I reckon if you survey the above over the coming months you’l be doing well… by the way Lamberts near Kelly’s Corner is a special place for a quiet jar. Another great old bar is to be found on the Long Mile Road and known locally by the young wags as an old folks home the great Half Way House.

Then maybe for a break from Dublin 8 I could direct you to “The Liberties” of the northside which pocesses many a fine pub and is still a great secret i.e. Stoneybatter and in particular the bars of Hanlon’s, Mulligans and Kavanagh’s ( the bar here should be listed by Dublin Corporation)..but alas I only heard last night that renovations might be under way.. so hurry!! When over this unique part of the city ramble down to Queen St. to view and savour a pub of many nooks and crannies and my favourite on the north side Frank Ryan’s where the clientele vary from dealers to big wigs from the Four Courts.

Certainly we’re spoiled for choice in Dublin 8 unlike the suburbs where the publican has a captive audience, increasing in numbers all the time and the local pub getting bigger and bigger . So the best of luck in your forays from deepest where ever into the inner city. I’m confident that you’l enjoy the pubs the people and the adventure of the new. Slainte and to your health,
JOHN CALLERY.

“Then maybe for a break from Dublin 8 I could direct you to “The Liberties” of the northside which pocesses many a fine pub and is still a great secret i.e. Stoneybatter and in particular the bars of Hanlon’s, Mulligans and Kavanagh’s “
What ,no mention of Walsh’s
without a doubt the best pub in stoneybatter

How Irish,
The largest forum topic is preoccupied with pubs, come on.

[This message has been edited by Tom Crowley (edited 08 December 2000).]

I dont believe for one second that the pub was a very important part of Irish history.
We received the idea of the pub from the English, where it has always been a dominant part of their culture, yet we dont hear the English reminscing about bygone days and the good old English pub.

The impact of the pub on Irish culture is fabricated. The Guinness brewery was always and is an English company. What about our Brethan culture, the Normans, etc., etc.
The pub is a part of Irish culture, not a main fixing point. Then again, the good thing about history is that it can always be changed to suit the present.

[This message has been edited by MK (edited 08 December 2000).]

Well aware,
I never denied the involvement of the pub in Irish culture, however, its role has been overrated. I dont understand where this idea of Irishness,i.e. the love of ‘the drink’, love of the craic, etc has come from, its like some source of pride for many. Why? ,its ridiculous.

How about we say that the Catholic Church has been the single biggest influential institution in Irish culture for the past 1000 years(Christian also). How does the pub compare to that, attitude forming, life controlling effect on Irish society.

Architects and designers dont belong in pubs.
Go to All Bar One.

One point not mentioned here is the reason for all these demolitions and redevelopments. The publican lobby has stopped the government from issuing new licences, therefore the best way for a publican to make money is to knock down an old pub and build a large new theme pub. These are Ok in themselves, and will no doubt be redecorated according to fashion, but meanwhile whole chunks of our history are being eradicated. If developers could simply apply for new licences for these new pubs then maybe the old family pubs would be allowed to live. Thanks to those who have posted pub crawl recommendations by the way