Famous Dublin pubs that are no more

harry Bailey esq · 27-07-2014 7:13pm

dats_right wrote: »

The Museum Rest in Benburb St. was burned down a couple of years ago wasn't bad.

loved that pub,bill and his son Dave that ran it were bang on.i worked across the road from it and the boys would always shout a round (a large round at that) for us whenever there was a birthday or at Christmas time.Terrible shame,pity it wasn't mcgettigans that burnt down...

tricky D · 27-07-2014 7:23pm

I used to know one of the syndicate members from poker. The prize fund had rolled over enough for the syndicate to take a reasonable gamble. Iirc they didn't get all the number combinations, so not a 100% sure bet but the chances had improved enough. I think the Lottery added more numbers after in the form of the bonus numbers to stretch the odds a bit.

Some of the same syndicate grabbed most the Evening Heralds in Dublin one day when there was a win a house competition and won it for a tidy profit.

The mathematics involved in doing these gambles isn't exactly difficult.

fleet_admiral · 27-07-2014 9:40pm

dats_right wrote: »

Great thread, so many good pubs are now sadly RIP. Just a few that spring to mind:

The Museum Rest in Benburb St. was burned down a couple of years ago wasn't bad.

McGraths in O'Connell St. now the site of Murrays.

The Dockers, Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

The Tenters, Blackpitts, Dublin 8.

The Quill, Aran Quay.

The Kylemore House, Dublin 12.

Noel Leonard's, Victoria Quay.

Horse & Jockey, Inchicore.

The Irish House, Grove Road, Dublin 6 (and years ago well before my time on Wood Quay).

I could go on and on but this is making me very sad. I need a pint!

John Sweeney is now just a humble bar man in the Terenure Inn

The Master · 28-07-2014 10:01am

septictank wrote: »

Barnstormers in Capel st, bikers and Scooterists got on no problem, if you had a few to many they would let you bring the bike through the pub and out the back to keep over night, it moved over to Townsend st in the mid 90's.

Became The Fusion Bar in the 90s
Played a gig there when I was 16
The whole block has been redeveloped into apartments and where the bar was located is now a beauty parlor called the girls room

septictank · 28-07-2014 10:11am

Brian Loughney had Kitty O Shea's, it was there until the late 90's he opened up a few around Europe Paris, Berlin, and then the USA, and the Irish bar was born.

Down beside Scruffy Murphys close to Dobbins restaurant was the Irish Bar Company which made the furniture to be flatpacked to these bars.

septictank · 28-07-2014 10:50am

dats_right wrote: »

Great thread, so many good pubs are now sadly RIP. Just a few that spring to mind:

The Museum Rest in Benburb St. was burned down a couple of years ago wasn't bad.

McGraths in O'Connell St. now the site of Murrays.

The Dockers, Sir John Rogerson's Quay.

The Tenters, Blackpitts, Dublin 8.

The Quill, Aran Quay.

The Kylemore House, Dublin 12.

Noel Leonard's, Victoria Quay.

Horse & Jockey, Inchicore.

The Irish House, Grove Road, Dublin 6 (and years ago well before my time on Wood Quay).

I could go on and on but this is making me very sad. I need a pint!

The Tenters was owned by a guy who ran a courier company and also cabs back in the day.
Bought the pub about 1992, I worked for him for a while, I think the pub was just a bit of a side line, not that important to him, ran the courier company from up stairs.

It was some kip when he bought it but he made a great job of it.

Vet Thrower · 31-07-2014 12:02pm

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

That takes me back:)hereford cider if i remember correct?never had the urge to venture inside mind,90% of the clientele were elderly women.The peacock was our only option when we were not quite old enough to go anywhere else....

It was Boss cider they used to sell. Nasty stuff. It only got palatable about halfway through the second flagon. I was a regular customer at the hatch, and went inside for a drink once, but it was pretty depressing.

There used to be a pub behind the Welcome Inn on the corner of Marlborough St and that little spur that comes off Cathal Brugha St. I forget what it was called though.

Amazed that the Plough hasn't been mentioned (and Stars disco bar in the basement). They had some theatrical aspirations, hence the name. The bar downstairs was full of teenagers, while upstairs was targeting patrons of the Abbey, none of whom ever seemed tempted to venture in. I think someone ended up being killed there in one of its incarnations.

I was first served a pint in a pub (Furstenberg, and I can still taste it) in the Horse and Tram in 1990 or so. The pub that first served me alcohol in their off licence (at the ripe old age of 12) is still trading so I won't mention it but it's in the vicinity.

There was a defrocked priest who used to drink in the Neptune, but he still wore his clerical garb. Also a guy who had had his larynx removed but still smoked cigarettes through the hole in his throat

Dancor · 31-07-2014 4:19pm

Vet Thrower wrote: »

There used to be a pub behind the Welcome Inn on the corner of Marlborough St and that little spur that comes off Cathal Brugha St. I forget what it was called though.

Was the pub called the Airways or something like that?

Vet Thrower · 31-07-2014 4:33pm

Dancor wrote: »

Was the pub called the Airways or something like that?

Yes, I think you're right.

Odyssey 2005 · 31-07-2014 8:09pm

Vet Thrower wrote: »

Yes, I think you're right.

Yep it was run by a woman as far as I can remember and was a great haunt for taxi drivers

septictank · 31-07-2014 11:34pm

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Yep it was run by a woman as far as I can remember and was a great haunt for taxi drivers

Helen something owned the Airways, lived out in Clontarf.

septictank · 31-07-2014 11:46pm

Vet Thrower wrote: »

It was Boss cider they used to sell. Nasty stuff. It only got palatable about halfway through the second flagon. I was a regular customer at the hatch, and went inside for a drink once, but it was pretty depressing.

There used to be a pub behind the Welcome Inn on the corner of Marlborough St and that little spur that comes off Cathal Brugha St. I forget what it was called though.

Amazed that the Plough hasn't been mentioned (and Stars disco bar in the basement). They had some theatrical aspirations, hence the name. The bar downstairs was full of teenagers, while upstairs was targeting patrons of the Abbey, none of whom ever seemed tempted to venture in. I think someone ended up being killed there in one of its incarnations.

I was first served a pint in a pub (Furstenberg, and I can still taste it) in the Horse and Tram in 1990 or so. The pub that first served me alcohol in their off licence (at the ripe old age of 12) is still trading so I won't mention it but it's in the vicinity.

There was a defrocked priest who used to drink in the Neptune, but he still wore his clerical garb. Also a guy who had had his larynx removed but still smoked cigarettes through the hole in his throat

I remember the stabbing in the Plough, two mates had a row, one went home nearby and came back with a knife, the staff were trowing one of the two out when the other one stabbed his mate.

The Liffey bar down beside Liberty hall, frequented by well known Dublin Characters often seen in the Sunday World, one of the Door staff was shot dead about 12 years ago.

Doran's on the junction of north earl street an awl lads pub but good craic, renamed The Barry Fitzgerald, you would get a great feed upstairs for nearly nothing.

power pants · 01-08-2014 11:39am

was airways where the peacock was ?

Vet Thrower · 01-08-2014 11:50am

power pants wrote: »

was airways where the peacock was ?

No, the Peacock was on the Sean McDermott St side of Marlborough St, part of the car park building. It was an Eastern European bar called Baltica last time I was there. Airways was on the O'Connell St side.

Gavin "shels" · 01-08-2014 12:19pm

gugleguy wrote: »

The Metro in Tallaght village - quite recently.

Hardly famous but it's not closed down, only temporary measure.

RustyNut · 01-08-2014 12:29pm

The Bolton Horse, right outside Bolton Street tech. Many a class was taken there. Was blown up during my time there. Gas heater issue if I remember rightly.

fleet_admiral · 01-08-2014 8:36pm

I wonder has the Dollymount House been mentioned? A fine pub, was sad to see it close

septictank · 01-08-2014 10:07pm

fleet_admiral wrote: »

I wonder has the Dollymount House been mentioned? A fine pub, was sad to see it close

Yeah, used to be a "Murphy's house" so called as it sold/pushed Murphy's and Heineken during the 90s, you would find more Bar managers in there mid week being well treated, going home with goodie bags, fine big pub, you could always find a corner.

septictank · 01-08-2014 10:35pm

Any Northsider's remember the Barry house Finglas, rough spot, I walked in one day wearing my helmet, taking it of as I came in the door the lads at the bar jumped off their seats, I was dropping in a letter for the owner Tom Nevin, who his wife The Black Widow, later had killed.

harry Bailey esq · 03-08-2014 6:14pm

septictank wrote: »

Any Northsider's remember the Barry house Finglas, rough spot, I walked in one day wearing my helmet, taking it of as I came in the door the lads at the bar jumped off their seats, I was dropping in a letter for the owner Tom Nevin, who his wife The Black Widow, later had killed.

its called an cappagh nua now,a good few shootings have happened there over the years.

harry Bailey esq · 03-08-2014 6:17pm

septictank wrote: »

Doran's on the junction of north earl street an awl lads pub but good craic, renamed The Barry Fitzgerald, you would get a great feed upstairs for nearly nothing.

it was Barry Fitzgeralds for years before became dorans.

septictank · 05-08-2014 9:24pm

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

it was Barry Fitzgeralds for years before became dorans.

Is it back to Dorans again, haven't been down there in a few years.

It was Dorans in the 70s and up until the mid late 80s.

I knew the new owner Frank Quinn at the time and helped him change it to the Barry Fitzgerald as he had to get permission from the Fitzgerald estate.

K.Flyer · 05-08-2014 9:44pm

The Submarine Bar at Crumlin Cross.
I remember it when it was an old, small dark and dingey pub.
Smiths (builders providers) bought and developed the site and turned the Submarine into a huge and very popular venue, particularly popular during sporting events.
Enter the recession, numbers dwindled, and the receivers stepped in and closed it down.
Now the receivers are looking for planning permission to convert a large part of it into a gym.

Big Nasty · 05-08-2014 11:45pm

Not city and not all that famous but the Sandyford House recently closed its doors for business.

A Disgrace · 06-08-2014 3:03pm

Anyone remember the Grattan pub on Capel st? Used to be great for gigs (upstairs) - could be Jack Nealons now?

Also, just across the street, was Gubu (now Pantibar) which in its day was one of the best bars in town

chinwag · 06-08-2014 5:15pm

A Disgrace wrote: »

Anyone remember the Grattan pub on Capel st? Used to be great for gigs (upstairs) - could be Jack Nealons now?

Wasn't that the Kingsway Bar once upon a time - it used to have ballads and other music upstairs.

Sunnyisland · 06-08-2014 6:08pm

The grove, along the canal near the the Army barracks.

Also at Harold's cross bridge the Irish house.

Sunnyisland · 06-08-2014 6:11pm

RustyNut wrote: »

The Bolton Horse, right outside Bolton Street tech. Many a class was taken there. Was blown up during my time there. Gas heater issue if I remember rightly.

Remember that well, used to go down for our three o clock teabreak and not return.

Sunnyisland · 06-08-2014 6:14pm

First pub going into the city on the north quays,
Sarsfield bar , many a day n night I was in there

And just further on down the bark kitchen , enough said about that .

shroom007 · 06-08-2014 7:59pm

The fox & Pheasant off Capel st was good for gigs and the Crane in Crane lane opp the oak was a nice pub with a snug in the corner, someone probably mentioned the underground at the juction of Georges st and Dame st tiny place

The Hill Billy · 06-08-2014 8:03pm

A Disgrace wrote: »

Anyone remember the Grattan pub on Capel st? Used to be great for gigs (upstairs) - could be Jack Nealons now?

Also, just across the street, was Gubu (now Pantibar) which in its day was one of the best bars in town

Ah, the Earl Grattan! Yeah, that's Jack Nealon's now. The Grattan was a great spot for gigs back in the day. Fond memories.

shroom007 · 06-08-2014 8:07pm

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Ah, the Earl Grattan! Yeah, that's Jack Nealon's now. The Grattan was a great spot for gigs back in the day. Fond memories.

Saw the Pale there a few times good stuff

gaiscioch · 06-08-2014 11:34pm

Fitzharris pub in Ringsend. What a brilliantly dead pub where time stood still. I remember they used to have a special for OAPs on OAP day (Friday?) where you could get a glass of stout for 50p - actually, loads of places across Ireland used to do something similar. The pub next door was the Oarsman and a couple of doors down used to be called Bunit and Simpson(among other names).

But if you like the Mulligans/O'Donoghues/The Gravediggers/Conways/Mother Redcaps style pub, Fitzharris's was the place to be.

Mister Jingles · 06-08-2014 11:47pm

A good few years before my time but I've heard from many older people that The Drake in Finglas Village was one of the best around back in the 80s and early 90s for entertainment and then turned into a kip and now gone altogether.

gaiscioch · 06-08-2014 11:47pm

TheBlock wrote: »

The Magnet - Pearse Steet was a great early shop with a mixture of Locals, Dockers, Postmen and Ringsends hiding. Great for a game of Pool changed it's name to the Widow Scanlons and then became a spar which closed. Terrible waste.

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Let's not forget the infamous Widow Scallans on Pearse Street. Was only there once with a local pal of mine. Once was more than enough.

Who could forget the Widow Scallan's and its blue and yellow paint. And the duke box, and the lads with particular tattoos playing pool. That was about it. Oh, and this of course. I still remember a certain politician nearly in tears roaring in the Dáil and shaking that day's newspaper after a funeral in Finglas a few days after that 1994 incident.

Tom McGaughren of RTÉ presented that report - that's a blast from the past. Haven't even thought of him in 20 years, but his accent is still as familiar as ever.

Esel · 06-08-2014 11:57pm

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Ah, the Earl Grattan! Yeah, that's Jack Nealon's now. The Grattan was a great spot for gigs back in the day. Fond memories.

It was called GF Handel's for a number of years in between - late 90's timeframe.

chinwag · 07-08-2014 12:03am

Mister Jingles wrote: »

A good few years before my time but I've heard from many older people that The Drake in Finglas Village was one of the best around back in the 80s and early 90s for entertainment and then turned into a kip and now gone altogether.

True, though you can go back a bit further for the really good nights there.

JuliusCaesar · 07-08-2014 12:06am

TheBlock wrote: »

I was first served a pint in a pub (Furstenberg, and I can still taste it) in the Horse and Tram in 1990 or so.

Ah, The Horse and Tram! There was a brilliant jazz band used play there Sunday afternoons - if only I could remember their name. It was a long name. They played "Plastic Jesus" and one of them, a trumpeter I think, used walk along the bar playing. They played in Bowes in Fleet St one time and some of the band ended up on the street, entertaining the bus queues while still playing together with the rest of the band inside. Late 80s, if anyone can remember them.

Esel · 07-08-2014 12:10am

chinwag wrote: »

True, though you can go back a bit further for the really good nights there.

Was there a bit of a Groundhog Day vibe going on though?

gaiscioch · 07-08-2014 12:43am

Esel wrote: »

It was called GF Handel's for a number of years in between - late 90's timeframe.

Must have been two GF Handel pubs if Jack Nealon's on Capel Street was also called that. The pub that's now called Arthur's on Thomas Street used to be GF Handel. Before that it used to be called the more logical Robert Emmet (Emmet was hanged a few metres from the pub in September 1803, in front of St Catherine's Church, while the world premiere of Handel's Messiah was down on Fishamble Street in April 1742, here).

On Fishamble Street itself, the Karma pub had consistently the cheapest pints in Dublin for a good time in the early 2000s. Not exactly a traditional pub, though. It's now part of the George Frederic Handel Hotel.

Esel · 07-08-2014 12:49am

gaiscioch wrote: »

Must have been two GF Handel pubs if Jack Nealon's on Capel Street was also called that. The pub that's now called Arthur's on Thomas Street used to be GF Handel. Before that it used to be called the more logical Robert Emmet (Emmet was hanged a few metres from the pub in September 1803, in front of St Catherine's Church, while the world premiere of Handel's Messiah was down on Fishamble Street in April 1742, here).

On Fishamble Street itself, the Karma pub had consistently the cheapest pints in Dublin for a good time in the early 2000s. Not exactly a traditional pub, though. It's now part of the George Frederic Handel Hotel.

The Thomas St. one came after Capel St. Not sure if they co-existed though.

italodisco · 07-08-2014 12:51am

The Peacock , it was under marlboro street carpark on the corner, its now a russian restaurant called Admiral.....

Jesus it was dodgy but some buzz.

I was in there one night when 2 detectives along with two uniform walked in , place went silent and everyone stood up and staired at them until they left lol

Sureal

The Hill Billy · 07-08-2014 5:53am

shroom007 wrote: »

Saw the Pale there a few times good stuff

LOL! Matt & Shane were friends of a friend. I went to quite a few of their gigs.

shroom007 · 07-08-2014 10:22am

Mister Jingles wrote: »

A good few years before my time but I've heard from many older people that The Drake in Finglas Village was one of the best around back in the 80s and early 90s for entertainment and then turned into a kip and now gone altogether.

and the old Shamrock with the fish tanks down the middle,now all the pubs in Finglas are sh*t

gaiscioch · 07-08-2014 12:38pm

Does anybody remember the Sinn Féin club on Blessington Street? Here's a photo from the hugely interesting Comeheretome website.

I was fascinated going in there for the first time, actually each of the 3 times I ended up there. This would have been in the early 1990s, and I remember going to - ahem - line dancing in Barry's Hotel around the same time. If my memory serves me, it was downstairs and there was at least one major raid on it by the Garda in the 1990s for being packed with people at some ungodly hour.

gaiscioch · 07-08-2014 12:39pm

I just googled Sinn Féin club and came across a brilliant article on underground Dublin clubs on the Comeheretome website:

http://comeheretome.com/2014/02/14/bona-fides-kips-and-early-houses/

"On the other side of the political divide, and probably more difficult to get into, were the republican and left-wing drinking clubs. These included Official Sinn Fein’s ‘Club Ui Cadhain‘ at 28 Gardiner Place, the Provisional Sinn Fein‘s office/drinking club at 5 Blessington Street and the back of Connolly Books which was ran by the Communist Party on East Essex Street. I heard, on occasion, there were also serious sessions in the sound-proof music room in the basement of Liberty Hall.
If you were able to make it until 7am, you could then make your way to the ‘early houses’ on the quays or close to the fruit and vegetable market at Smithfield. These pubs were given special early-morning licences in 1927 for dock workers, traders, fishermen and other shift-workers."

I think there's actually a Tory/unionist club off Camden Street that's still going.

The Master · 07-08-2014 2:31pm

^
Fantastic article some great information in it

fleet_admiral · 07-08-2014 4:57pm

The pub itself isnt closed but does anyone remember the downstairs section in madigans on north earl street?
I used to be brought in there for our dinner after shopping when I was a chisler

Someone mentioned the Grove on Grove Road, that was a great shop. I was there all the time and the night it closed we were instructed by PH to drink every last drop of alcohol left, that was one crazy night

jippo nolan · 07-08-2014 6:29pm

JuliusCaesar wrote: »

Ah, The Horse and Tram! There was a brilliant jazz band used play there Sunday afternoons - if only I could remember their name. It was a long name. They played "Plastic Jesus" and one of them, a trumpeter I think, used walk along the bar playing. They played in Bowes in Fleet St one time and some of the band ended up on the street, entertaining the bus queues while still playing together with the rest of the band inside. Late 80s, if anyone can remember them.

Was it"the long john jump band"?

gaiscioch · 20-08-2014 3:31pm

The Baily Court in Howth is looking awful nowadays. Passed it a couple of days ago and it looks even more derelict than in this photo. Despite its very recent decline, it dates from c. 1800 and has an architectural history worthy enough to be listed on the hugely interesting/addictive Buildings of Ireland website.

Famous Dublin pubs that are no more

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