# O'Donoghue's Pub

O’Donoghue’s Pub (also known as O'Donoghue's Bar) is a historically significant drinking establishment located at 15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, Ireland—near St. Stephen's Green on Dublin’s south side. Built in 1789 as a grocery store, it began operating full-time as a pub when purchased by the O’Donoghue family in 1934.

## History

This pub is closely associated with Irish traditional music and was where the popular Irish folk group, The Dubliners, began performing in the early 1960s.
Many other notable Irish musicians including Séamus Ennis, Joe Heaney, Andy Irvine,$^{:42–45}$ Christy Moore, The Fureys and Phil Lynott have played at O’Donoghue’s, and their photographs are displayed in the pub.
Included are portraits of The Dubliners themselves: the five founding members Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Ciarán Bourke, John Sheahan and Barney McKenna, as well as later members Eamonn Campbell and Seán Cannon; these photographs hang to the right of the entrance, where the nightly sessions are played.
   It was August 1962 When I first set foot in O’Donoghue’s A world of music, friends and booze Opened up before me I never could’ve guessed as I walked through the door Just what the future had in store A crossroads for my life I saw Lying there to taunt me.
   Well, I was an actor, I played straight I played in the Gaiety, played at the Gate My mother in 1928 Had trod those boards before me I was getting tired of the company
   An actor’s life did not suit me I said “Goodbye; you’ll never see me Back here in Neary’s.”
   Johnny Moynihan in his fusty coat Was the first to play there in Merrion Row And he brought the bouzouki to Ireland, you know
   “'Way storm along, John!” Paddy and Maureen O’Donoghue Ciarán Bourke, Luke Kelly, Ronnie Drew Barney McKenna and me and you In the early 1960s.
   Well, Paddy and Maureen very very sound Though she liked to camp on the moral high ground If you had long hair you were outward bound Go down you blood red roses Ronnie Drew in his fine suit of blue And a voice like gravel that would cut you in two We thought he was Dublin through and through But he blew in from Dún Laoghaire
   Joe Ryan and John Kelly in the front bar Their fiddles are from the County Clare Joe Heaney sings in the cold night air In the laneway after closing Our sea shanties in perfect tune And Séamus Ennis in the afternoon It was all over much too soon Days of Wine and Roses.
   Well, Banjo Barney calling the tune Mary Jordan’s a whizz on the spoons Up the Swannee and Down the Broom Barney’s rising to it They carry him bodily out to the jacks He empties his bladder and they carry him back He swallows his pint and he’s right back on track How the f*ck does he do it?
   In the afternoon you might find there Luke Kelly and his banjo and his red hair Oh, what a time, what an atmosphere What more could a young man wish for? How I’d spend my time was never in doubt This is what life was all about A bowl of soup and a pint of stout
   Agus fáigamid siúid mar a tá sé
   David Smythe never short of a witty phrase Sonny Brogan love the way he plays Ted McKenna, God bless the days Of Italian mandolinos At closing time we didn’t go far Just down the road to the Pike Coffee Bar “The usual suspects; there you are! Have yez no homes to go to?”
   Putting up a note on the message board Sweeney’s Men have a gig, O Lord We have to meet at 12 o’clock For the journey down to Galway Bu the Sweeney van broke down at the door And we didn’t get started till a quarter past four To the merry tune of the Dolan snore Haul away me Rosie
   It all came to an end in ‘68 The rest of the world was lying in wait And I started out for a new landscape Set sail for the Pirin Mountains From the old North Wall we sailed away And all me friends were there on the quay Won’t be back for many’s the day But it was bloody great while it lasted!
   It was August 1962 When I first set foot in O’Donoghue’s A world of music, friends and booze Hastening towards me I never could’ve guessed as I walked through the door Just what the future had in store A blueprint for my life I saw Lying there before me.
~ Andy Irvine, 2004
Andy Irvine wrote the tribute song "O'Donoghue's", in which he reminisces about his early days in Dublin when he first started frequenting the pub in August 1962. The song was released on the album Changing Trains (2007).
Dessie Hynes from Longford bought the bar from Paddy and Maureen O'Donoghue in 1977 and ran the pub with his family for 11 years.
In 1988, O’Donoghue’s was purchased by publicans Oliver Barden and John Mahon. Barden is still the proprietor and continues to run the pub with his family and staff to this day.