The Donaghmede Shopping Centre is a bit of an oddity. It hasn't had much more than a lick of paint on the outside since it was built; but has had multiple internal refits - the late 90s red marble and gold look from last time I was there had been replaced by a light colours and stripped pine look. It has large independent stores serving the roles usually done by chains - book shop, sports store, toy shop. It has generally managed to hold on to a decent range and number of retailers - even though there are some empty stores - when some other outer suburbs have had their original 60s/70s shopping centres demolished due to dereliction. Gay Byrne does their radio ads, decades after he stopped being a mainstream radio personality - though this is possibly due to the connection to Mike Murphy via the centres owners Harcourt.
One part of that oddity is that is still has a pub accessible from the main mall. The main way in to the Donaghmede Inn is via its outside doors though. These are covered in branded contravision currently, and generally make it quite hard to tell if the pub is open or not.
Inside, on the main floor, there is one huge space with a single central bar area. There's various different types of seating areas, including a zone laid out ever so vaguely like a school science lab - tall tables, stools on one side - in front of the big screen. I think there's a downstairs music bar also, but there doesn't seem to be anything recent about its operation
In what were the outer suburbs at the time of their construction, its normal for bars to be Really Very Large, and this is no exception. This is the only pub in Donaghmede, with significant distances in any direction to the next nearest (due North, although not covering particularly populated areas, has no pubs for nearly four miles!), and its location means there wouldn't be much passing or outside trade at any stage. It isn't the most appealing place to go for a pint; but if you've no other choice...
Wednesday 30 October 2019
Monday 28 October 2019
S0083 The Oak
My sister insists I'd been here before. She can even name a date - Friday August 10, 2007 - that it apparently was.
She doesn't normally keep this level of detailed memories; but that was the day that Tony Wilson, founder of Factory Records, died so it's at least a bit more memorable. And I do think we went out that night, but to S0994 Bruxelles.
If I was actually here that night, it was in the modern side of the pub, then called Thomas Reads, more recently briefly The Ivy; and not the beautiful old bar constructed from oak timbers of the RMS Mauretania. This was The Oak the entire time; but this name is now used for the entire premises. The Ivy had to change its name due to a threat of legal action from the owners of The Ivy restaurant chain, which has since opened a branch on Dawson Street (1014544 The Ivy)
Anyway, I hadn't recorded it as visited simply because I couldn't remember actually being here. And aptly enough I was meeting my sister to go to a gig in The Olympia and had some time to kill, which lead me here for a few pints.
The surroundings are both relatively standard early 20th Century pub, and yet almost unique due to the source of the wood panelling - a bar in Bristol was kitted out with some; but as this has recently been a nightclub I don't know what if anything remains.
I could have stayed for longer, but the temptation of the much greater range of beers in Underdog got too much. I'll remember this trip anyway, and probably won't leave it 12 years before coming back.
She doesn't normally keep this level of detailed memories; but that was the day that Tony Wilson, founder of Factory Records, died so it's at least a bit more memorable. And I do think we went out that night, but to S0994 Bruxelles.
If I was actually here that night, it was in the modern side of the pub, then called Thomas Reads, more recently briefly The Ivy; and not the beautiful old bar constructed from oak timbers of the RMS Mauretania. This was The Oak the entire time; but this name is now used for the entire premises. The Ivy had to change its name due to a threat of legal action from the owners of The Ivy restaurant chain, which has since opened a branch on Dawson Street (1014544 The Ivy)
Anyway, I hadn't recorded it as visited simply because I couldn't remember actually being here. And aptly enough I was meeting my sister to go to a gig in The Olympia and had some time to kill, which lead me here for a few pints.
The surroundings are both relatively standard early 20th Century pub, and yet almost unique due to the source of the wood panelling - a bar in Bristol was kitted out with some; but as this has recently been a nightclub I don't know what if anything remains.
I could have stayed for longer, but the temptation of the much greater range of beers in Underdog got too much. I'll remember this trip anyway, and probably won't leave it 12 years before coming back.
Saturday 26 October 2019
S4304 Number Twenty Two
This is one of those rare premises that is entirely underground - I can see a listicle on pubs that are entirely under or above ground except for their entrance doors coming on some time I'm short of content - and has a very long and storied history
This was the site of the famed music venue McGonagles, of which much has been written elsewhere; and before that it was the Crystal Ballroom. If you look at the lists of artists which have played there in either incarnation - McGonagles being in the era of better memories so has a decent Setlists.fm entry, with the Crystal having hosted Johnny Cash amongst others - you get a run down of many of the international acts who bothered to grace Dublin with their presence in the days before it became an essential touring stop.
During this period I do not believe it had a full pub licence, but as much of it was before I was born I'll willingly take correction on that!
In the 1990s, the site hosted The System nightclub, which was one of the venues in the early days of the dance music scene in Dublin.
But its days of importance had to come to an end, and the site was physically redeveloped in the early 2000s by Paddy McKillen (Senior, not the Press Up son!), with the basement space used for "Venu Brasserie", backed by Michelin-star winning chef Patrick Guildbaud. This closed in 2011.
There is something illegible on the door in the 2014 Google Streeview pases, and for the few years before reopening as Number Twenty Two it was doing annual service as an "adults Christmas grotto" for a few years and I believe sitting idle in between.
We're now back to a more sensible/sustainable use; and as Number Twenty Two it's open as a decently sized performance space, with a double height stage area with floor and balcony seating and bars.
I was there at a company arranged event so I can only say it was absolutely perfect in every way! Bit is actually decent enough. There aren't many spaces like this left in the city; and any addition should be welcomed.
This was the site of the famed music venue McGonagles, of which much has been written elsewhere; and before that it was the Crystal Ballroom. If you look at the lists of artists which have played there in either incarnation - McGonagles being in the era of better memories so has a decent Setlists.fm entry, with the Crystal having hosted Johnny Cash amongst others - you get a run down of many of the international acts who bothered to grace Dublin with their presence in the days before it became an essential touring stop.
During this period I do not believe it had a full pub licence, but as much of it was before I was born I'll willingly take correction on that!
In the 1990s, the site hosted The System nightclub, which was one of the venues in the early days of the dance music scene in Dublin.
But its days of importance had to come to an end, and the site was physically redeveloped in the early 2000s by Paddy McKillen (Senior, not the Press Up son!), with the basement space used for "Venu Brasserie", backed by Michelin-star winning chef Patrick Guildbaud. This closed in 2011.
There is something illegible on the door in the 2014 Google Streeview pases, and for the few years before reopening as Number Twenty Two it was doing annual service as an "adults Christmas grotto" for a few years and I believe sitting idle in between.
We're now back to a more sensible/sustainable use; and as Number Twenty Two it's open as a decently sized performance space, with a double height stage area with floor and balcony seating and bars.
I was there at a company arranged event so I can only say it was absolutely perfect in every way! Bit is actually decent enough. There aren't many spaces like this left in the city; and any addition should be welcomed.
Monday 21 October 2019
October 2019 licence update
This is the end of the licencing year list; and in theory every current licence should be on it. Things don't work out that nicely, but we do have 994 licences on it which is close enough - and the highest year in since I've been keeping records.
New additions:
1015498 Penny Lane, Great Strand Street - sister pub to N0191 Pantibar. Already visited.
1015550 The Hendrick Hotel, Hendrick Street. Already visited.
1015607 Roe & Co Distillery Visitor Centre, James Street
1015814 Doolally, South Richmond Street - new Press Up restaurant with a full licence
Reappearances:
N0230 Hanlons Corner
S1427 The Hub, Crumlin - think this is still closed
Removals:
S1268 Rathfarnham House. This reappeared last year but never traded - it's been converted to a creche! Suspect licence was reactivated to sale.
A number of pubs which are definitely, permanently closed - already converted to housing - reappeared on the list but I suspect this is an admin move before the licences are sold elsewhere.
New additions:
1015498 Penny Lane, Great Strand Street - sister pub to N0191 Pantibar. Already visited.
1015550 The Hendrick Hotel, Hendrick Street. Already visited.
1015607 Roe & Co Distillery Visitor Centre, James Street
1015814 Doolally, South Richmond Street - new Press Up restaurant with a full licence
Reappearances:
N0230 Hanlons Corner
S1427 The Hub, Crumlin - think this is still closed
Removals:
S1268 Rathfarnham House. This reappeared last year but never traded - it's been converted to a creche! Suspect licence was reactivated to sale.
A number of pubs which are definitely, permanently closed - already converted to housing - reappeared on the list but I suspect this is an admin move before the licences are sold elsewhere.
Monday 14 October 2019
1011267 Zozimus
One of the limited number of pubs in Dublin named after someone who isn't the owner or a former owner - Publin did a feature on these that strangely missed this one out - this pub is Built For Instagram. Or at least the outside of it is - having covered the end of Annes Lane with umbrellas in a manner that should be easy for anyone to photograph well. I didn't - I was trying to catch the rear entrances to the Dawson Street pubs that are now all opening out here; and the weather was abysmal.
The bar is table service driven, which is an absolutely turn off for me. I imagine this is to try best allocate seating for food, which is a core part of the offering here - and has been given both abysmal and glowing reviews by different reviewers. I'd already eaten.
The drinks menu pushes cocktails above all else; and the draught taps are unlabelled - meaning you do have to resort to the menu or ask the staff just to find out what pints are available.
This just isn't my kind of pub, basically.
The bar is table service driven, which is an absolutely turn off for me. I imagine this is to try best allocate seating for food, which is a core part of the offering here - and has been given both abysmal and glowing reviews by different reviewers. I'd already eaten.
The drinks menu pushes cocktails above all else; and the draught taps are unlabelled - meaning you do have to resort to the menu or ask the staff just to find out what pints are available.
This just isn't my kind of pub, basically.
Friday 11 October 2019
S3271 Marys
This is another Press Up premises, and features a branch of their burger chain Wowburger in what I imagine used to be the dancefloor - for this is one of Dublins "lost nightclubs", something it served the city as under multiple rapidly changing names - in the five years before it became Marys it was Basebar, then AKA, then briefly a gay bar called Wilde and then even more briefly Madison.
But its now branded as a "Bar and Hardware Store", styled on the similar setups that were once extremely common across rural Ireland. This has bene the name above the door for more than five years now, providing a stability that the premises probably hasn't seen since the days when there was the Wicklow Hotel on the site.
The "Hardware Store" part of the name is backed up by a small but baffling range of hardware on the shelves - with an emphasis that it is all for sale, and indeed they are all tagged with Topline Hardware price tags. Presumably these are from wherever they bought them originally as the pub is not listed as an outlet on the Topline website!
The bulk of the pub here is underground - there is a bar and some seating upstairs, but significantly more seating and the large Wowburger area downstairs. It isn't quite the case that "if you've seen one Press Up venue, you've seen them all" - there are a few disparate styles, but this is so similar to some others you will probably feel quite at home.
Thursday 10 October 2019
1014482 Maldron Hotel Kevin Street
This was actually so forgettable I, well, forgot I'd been here - it was visited before the previous entry.
The bar here is advertised from outside the hotel, but does feel VERY strange to use as a non-guest. You must be buzzed in to the toilets by the reception desk (N2007 Academy Plaza Hotel has the same requirement), as they are accessed from the guest lift lobby.
You're across the road from 1011790 The Fourth Corner and also near to 1008283 Fallons so there's really not much point for a non-guest to drink here.
The bar here is advertised from outside the hotel, but does feel VERY strange to use as a non-guest. You must be buzzed in to the toilets by the reception desk (N2007 Academy Plaza Hotel has the same requirement), as they are accessed from the guest lift lobby.
You're across the road from 1011790 The Fourth Corner and also near to 1008283 Fallons so there's really not much point for a non-guest to drink here.
Wednesday 9 October 2019
1014121 Lucky Duck
The Press Up Group gets quite a bit of negative media coverage for just how many venues they have opened in Dublin; reaching out across the majority of the city centre - and now the southern suburbs - in a relatively short period of time; and tying it to the wider cultural loss issues in the city.
The most detailed piece of writing on it that I've seen was in the Sunday Business Post - which is paywalled online - so I can't link you to it; but it contained a short statement by a representative for Press Up pointing out that many of their new venues were derelict rather than replacing something else active. And this is the case with The Lucky Duck.
The Aungier House pub on this site operated for over a century; but closed in the late 1990s and rapidly fell in to significant dereliction. Press Up acquired the premises in the late 2010s and announced it was to reopen as "The Dutch Billy", a reference to a type of house construction which was once common on Aungier Street. There was one problem with that name however - this is a Victorian replacement building!
Many Dutch Billys had their distinctive roofs covered or replaced to give the then-fashionable squarer lines - an example of an actual Dutch Billy here shows that - so its an easy enough mistake to make; and one that was corrected before opening. But not before the interior fitout had begun; as a major element of the decoration are "KLM Houses", knick-knacks handed out to business class customers on KLM. These are supplied containing Bols Genever; and according to the barman I spoke to, the ones filling a display window and scattered around the bar are all full.
There is a surprising amount of Victoriana to the interior here; although what is original and what is repro or recovered from elsewhere I don't know. The gents toilets - situated under the street with a skylight in the pavement - are full of what must be original fittings restored to a functional level at least.
The drinks offerings are similar to other Press Up venues; but its both smaller and less forced "Instagram Ready" as their other ones, so even if you dislike those it may be worth a visit.
The most detailed piece of writing on it that I've seen was in the Sunday Business Post - which is paywalled online - so I can't link you to it; but it contained a short statement by a representative for Press Up pointing out that many of their new venues were derelict rather than replacing something else active. And this is the case with The Lucky Duck.
The Aungier House pub on this site operated for over a century; but closed in the late 1990s and rapidly fell in to significant dereliction. Press Up acquired the premises in the late 2010s and announced it was to reopen as "The Dutch Billy", a reference to a type of house construction which was once common on Aungier Street. There was one problem with that name however - this is a Victorian replacement building!
Many Dutch Billys had their distinctive roofs covered or replaced to give the then-fashionable squarer lines - an example of an actual Dutch Billy here shows that - so its an easy enough mistake to make; and one that was corrected before opening. But not before the interior fitout had begun; as a major element of the decoration are "KLM Houses", knick-knacks handed out to business class customers on KLM. These are supplied containing Bols Genever; and according to the barman I spoke to, the ones filling a display window and scattered around the bar are all full.
There is a surprising amount of Victoriana to the interior here; although what is original and what is repro or recovered from elsewhere I don't know. The gents toilets - situated under the street with a skylight in the pavement - are full of what must be original fittings restored to a functional level at least.
The drinks offerings are similar to other Press Up venues; but its both smaller and less forced "Instagram Ready" as their other ones, so even if you dislike those it may be worth a visit.
Sunday 6 October 2019
S1494 Morriseys
A very run-down locals pub on Cork Street - the only survivor of the significantly higher quantity of pubs this area of Dublin had before road widening and redevelopment destroyed buildings and moved some of the population away. At least five other pubs were on this end of the road, and many survived even until the early 2000s.
The most interesting event on this visit was seeing someone being told they'd had too many; shaking hands with the barman and promptly leaving! There's nowhere else that close by to head to other than here - I even got the bus to the next pub - so presumably they headed home.
The most interesting event on this visit was seeing someone being told they'd had too many; shaking hands with the barman and promptly leaving! There's nowhere else that close by to head to other than here - I even got the bus to the next pub - so presumably they headed home.
Saturday 5 October 2019
N2581 The Brass Fox
I used to work in Tallaght and there were frequent attempts to organise "nights out" in the town - that usually ended up with everyone just going to (the now closed) S1593 The Cuckoos Nest nearer the office and leaving by about 8. The usual intended destinations were either S3176 The Abberley Court Hotel - or Blu Bar. Blu Bar closed down before we ever managed to actually get there, though; and remained closed for a while.
That premises is now The Brass Fox - or at least the bar area is, as they are not operating the nightclub that was the main attraction in the Blu Bar and later Madison eras of the premises.
The Brass Fox started off in Wicklow Town and this is their second premises. Its a food-centric offering, as is now becoming quite common in suburbia; and the food and drink lineup are quite similar to what you'll get elsewhere - 1012552 The Maple Tree in Saggart from a few weeks ago comes to mind.
With the offering being food-led in mind; I headed here for lunch. I actually went for two starters from the menu rather than any of the mains; one of which was voluminous enough to be a main course, if anyone would actually order a goats cheese and pastry concoction as main!
Despite being defeated by the sheer quantity of goats cheese in front of me, I enjoyed it, and the buttermilk chicken strips that were the other order. The tap lineup isn't the most thrilling, but there were Franciscan Well products at least.
That premises is now The Brass Fox - or at least the bar area is, as they are not operating the nightclub that was the main attraction in the Blu Bar and later Madison eras of the premises.
The Brass Fox started off in Wicklow Town and this is their second premises. Its a food-centric offering, as is now becoming quite common in suburbia; and the food and drink lineup are quite similar to what you'll get elsewhere - 1012552 The Maple Tree in Saggart from a few weeks ago comes to mind.
With the offering being food-led in mind; I headed here for lunch. I actually went for two starters from the menu rather than any of the mains; one of which was voluminous enough to be a main course, if anyone would actually order a goats cheese and pastry concoction as main!
Despite being defeated by the sheer quantity of goats cheese in front of me, I enjoyed it, and the buttermilk chicken strips that were the other order. The tap lineup isn't the most thrilling, but there were Franciscan Well products at least.
Friday 4 October 2019
S1588 The Dragon Inn
I wonder was there ever much confusion caused here during the years that S3871 Nolita was called The Dragon? People wondering why their taxi ride was taking them in to suburbia or why the bar appeared to have rather more bears and rather less house music than expected for instance.
A restaurant reviewer - which Google is completely failing in finding for me; so it was probably in the Sunday Business Post - has written about confusion between 1014544 The Ivy and N0147 Ivy House before, so I'm sure it must have happened... anyway, back to the still named Dragon.
There's two pubs in the old Tallaght village that predate it becoming the vast outer suburb it is now - the previously mentioned S1589 Molloys. Molloys has expanded to a superpub but The Dragon is still (comparatively) small and seems to have kept more of the community spirit of a village pub. Their Facebook page focuses less on promoting the pub and more on featuring life events of regulars and other community info - including a recent link to a blog entry on a long-gone (1913) pub in Tallaght I had not been aware of.
Molloys was actually marginally cheaper for a pint, which I found a bit odd as usually pubs like this are cheaper - but its still nothing compared to city centre prices.
A restaurant reviewer - which Google is completely failing in finding for me; so it was probably in the Sunday Business Post - has written about confusion between 1014544 The Ivy and N0147 Ivy House before, so I'm sure it must have happened... anyway, back to the still named Dragon.
There's two pubs in the old Tallaght village that predate it becoming the vast outer suburb it is now - the previously mentioned S1589 Molloys. Molloys has expanded to a superpub but The Dragon is still (comparatively) small and seems to have kept more of the community spirit of a village pub. Their Facebook page focuses less on promoting the pub and more on featuring life events of regulars and other community info - including a recent link to a blog entry on a long-gone (1913) pub in Tallaght I had not been aware of.
Molloys was actually marginally cheaper for a pint, which I found a bit odd as usually pubs like this are cheaper - but its still nothing compared to city centre prices.
Thursday 3 October 2019
S1589 Molloys (Foxes Covert)
This is the original core site of the Molloys chain of off-licences (and previously other pubs), which started as the off-sales section of this now giant pub.
Tallaght has a very limited number of pubs originally - there are some newer licences around The Square though - due to the difficulty of opening pubs near existing pubs in "rural" areas, those outside the old Dublin Corporation area effectively. This has ensured that many of the pubs reached the size of barns, with the now demolished S1709 Belgard Inn being claimed to be the largest pub in the country at one stage.
Some of that still remains here, as Molloys is vast. The premises is branded as two separate entities - Molloys and The Station (presumably a reference the former tramway offices that made up part of the site); but they are internally joined. There's a large enough outdoor area enclosed within the building and this is where I sat reading the papers on what was an unseasonably sunny afternoon.
My parents lived nearby here in the early 70s - I forgot to ask my Dad last night if he drank here or S1588 Dragon Inn. That's the next entry to go up so I may remember to ask before I write that!
Tallaght has a very limited number of pubs originally - there are some newer licences around The Square though - due to the difficulty of opening pubs near existing pubs in "rural" areas, those outside the old Dublin Corporation area effectively. This has ensured that many of the pubs reached the size of barns, with the now demolished S1709 Belgard Inn being claimed to be the largest pub in the country at one stage.
Some of that still remains here, as Molloys is vast. The premises is branded as two separate entities - Molloys and The Station (presumably a reference the former tramway offices that made up part of the site); but they are internally joined. There's a large enough outdoor area enclosed within the building and this is where I sat reading the papers on what was an unseasonably sunny afternoon.
My parents lived nearby here in the early 70s - I forgot to ask my Dad last night if he drank here or S1588 Dragon Inn. That's the next entry to go up so I may remember to ask before I write that!
Wednesday 2 October 2019
S1508 Kennys
I grabbed this one sort-of unexpectedly when I was suddenly at a loose end on a late weekday afternoon in this part of the city. I'd done the other pubs this end of James Street on previous visits but hadn't dropped in here before.
This is quite a large pub once you get inside; with a small lounge to the front leading in to a vastly larger one to the rear; and a decent sized smoking area/suntrap out the back.
There seems to be a good mix of locals and hospital staff (St James's is across the road - and the NCH will join it if its ever finished!) as regulars here. Prices are on the surprising side of reasonable, which is always nice.
I think this was closed for a while recently, as it was off the licence register for quite some time; and it was definitely up for sale via Younges, but everything is in full flow again.
The building was the birthplace of WT Cosgrave, with a plaque unveiled by his son in 2013 (as an aside, that genealogy site touches on many Dublin pubs through arms of the covered families; and I really must dig through it properly at some stage)
This is quite a large pub once you get inside; with a small lounge to the front leading in to a vastly larger one to the rear; and a decent sized smoking area/suntrap out the back.
There seems to be a good mix of locals and hospital staff (St James's is across the road - and the NCH will join it if its ever finished!) as regulars here. Prices are on the surprising side of reasonable, which is always nice.
I think this was closed for a while recently, as it was off the licence register for quite some time; and it was definitely up for sale via Younges, but everything is in full flow again.
The building was the birthplace of WT Cosgrave, with a plaque unveiled by his son in 2013 (as an aside, that genealogy site touches on many Dublin pubs through arms of the covered families; and I really must dig through it properly at some stage)
Tuesday 1 October 2019
S1428 Marble Arch
Nice pub, shame about a subset of the customers.
It actually has a lovely fitout inside - traditional enough bar, modern well equipped lounge and so on; but there were customers there I would not want to be in the same pub with for long; so I finished my pint and left.
It actually has a lovely fitout inside - traditional enough bar, modern well equipped lounge and so on; but there were customers there I would not want to be in the same pub with for long; so I finished my pint and left.
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