S3252 The Gallops

It was never my intention to do a themed ticking trip, but shortly after getting to the furthest out, and hence first, pub of the day I realised that I was about to visit a series of pubs in shopping centres. 

Dublin's shopping centres have often included pubs - things you'd identify as a pub rather than just places with pub licences at that - from the days of the first modern shopping centres in the 60s. Stillorgan SC had a Madigans in what I think is the now the Brambles cafe upstairs; although this is long gone; and only planning issues prevented a huge Madigans opening in Nutgrove when new.

Some other early shopping centres have shed their pubs, e.g. the multiple premises in Dun Laoghaire SC which replaced the pubs that were demolished to enable its construction are all now closed. But others still remain, and even persist in newer build shopping centres.

And The Gallops is one of these, being part of the Leopardstown Valley shopping centre, and also right beside the Leopardstown Village one - which is far less village like. 

A large pub with a tiny selection of taps - I think I counted seven unique offerings - and heavily themed around the nearby racecourse (as if the name didn't give you a hint). It was early enough in the day that only a few regulars were in, having a familiar conversation with the bar staff - despite being in a shopping centre, this pub definitely has regulars.