Step inside a Dublin pub and you may be following in the footsteps of a famous Dublin writer. Many pubs in Dublin UNESCO City of Literature are closely associated with literature and were often visited by writers such as James Joyce and Samuel Beckett. Even today Dublin bars are a place of conversation and exchange of ideas.
Aurora Cafe and Bar, Eccles Street/Dorset Street
Notes: Dublin pub Larry O'Rourke was mentioned in Ulysses ('Calypso' episode)
The Bailey, Duke Street
Patrons: Dublin pub, The Bailey was visited by Brendan Behan, James Joyce, Patrick Kavanagh, James Stephens, Padraic Colum, Tom Kettle, Flann O'Brien, Brinsley McNamara and Oliver St John Gogarty
The Bleeding Horse, Upper Camden Street
Patrons Dublin writer, James Clarence Mangan, visited The Bleeding Horse
Notes: Mentioned in the works of Sean O'Casey
Described by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu in The Cock and the Anchor (1845)
Mentioned in Ulysses ('Eumaeus' episode)
The Brazen Head, Lwr Bridge Street
Notes: Dublin bar, The Brazen Head was incorrectly mentioned in Ulysses ('Eumaeus' episode) as 'the Brazen Head over in Winetavern Street'.
Brian Boru/Hedigans, Prospect Road, Glasnevin
Notes: Dublin pub Brian Boru/Hedigans was mentioned in Ulysses ('Hades' episode), Mentioned in Sean O'Casey's Pictures in the Hallway
The Church, Junction of Mary Street and Jervis Street
Notes: Jonathan Swift author of Gulliver's Travels and Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral attended services here, Sean O'Casey playwright and author of The Plough and The Stars, Juno and The Paycock and The Shadow of a Gunman was baptised here in 1880
Davy Byrnes, 2 Duke Street
Patrons Dublin bar Davy Byrnes was frequented by such famous Dublin writers as James Joyce; Padraic O'Conaire; F.R. Higgins (Abbey Theatre); Brendan Behan
Notes: Mentioned in Ulysses ('Lestrygonians' episode)
The Duke, Duke Street
Patrons Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh visited Dublin pub The Duke
Fitzgerald's (formerly The Norseman, formerly J.J. O'Neills), Temple Bar
Notes: Dublin bar, Fitzgerald's was mentioned in Ulysses ('Wandering Rocks' episode), Mentioned in Dubliners ('Counterparts')
Gill's, North Circular Road/Jones's Road
Patrons Gill's was visited by Dublin writer Brendan Behan
Grogan's, South William Street
Patrons Literary pub, Grogan's was visited by Flann O'Brien and Liam O'Flaherty
Horseshoe Bar, Shelbourne Hotel
Patrons Horseshoe Bar has been frequented by an astounding array of writers including Elizabeth Bowen, William Makepeace Thackeray, Rudyard Kipling
Notes: The Shelbourne Hotel is the setting for George Moore's Drama in Muslin
Kennedy's (formerly Conway's), Westland Row
Patrons Two of Dublin's most famous writers Samuel Beckett and James Joyce visited Kennedy's.
McDaid's, Harry Street
Patrons McDaid's was a popular spot for many Dublin writers including Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan, Flann O'Brien, Austin Clarke, Anthony Cronin, Liam O'Flaherty, J.P. Donleavy
Notes: The unofficial headquarters of the influential Envoy literary magazine.
Door of 7 Eccles Street [home of Leopold Bloom] was preserved here – now in the James Joyce Cultural Centre
Further Reading:
Anthony Cronin, Dead As Door Nails
John Ryan, Remembering How We Stood
Mulligan's, Poolbeg Street
Notes: Dublin pub Mulligan's was mentioned in Dubliners ('Counterparts')
Mullingar House Inn, Chapelizod
Patrons Joyce Plaque
Notes: Dublin bar Mullingar House Inn was mentioned in Finnegans Wake [Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker was the publican here]
Neary's, Chatham Street
Patrons Neary's was visited by Dublin writers Brendan Behan, Flann O'Brien
O'Neill's, Suffolk Street
Patrons O' Neill's was visited by Patrick Kavanagh
Oval Pub, Middle Abbey Street
Notes: Dublin bar, Oval Pub was mentioned in Ulysses ('Wandering Rocks' episode), Mentioned in Samuel Beckett's More Pricks than Kicks.
The Palace Bar, Fleet Street
Patrons Many famous Dublin writers visited The Palace Bar including F.R. Higgins, Brinsley McNamara, Patrick Kavanagh, Austin Clarke, John Betjeman
Notes: Literary gathering conducted by Robert M. Smyllie (editor of the Irish Times) throughout the 1930s and 1940s
Searson's, Baggot Street
Patrons Patrick Kavanagh visited Dublin pub, Searson's
Toner's, Baggot Street
Patrons Famous writers Oliver St. John Gogarty and W.B. Yeats visited Toner's. In fact Toner's is the only Dublin pub visited by W.B. Yeats
The Waterloo, Baggot Street
Patrons Patrick Kavanagh visited Dublin bar The Waterloo
