The Church on Mary Street; a building I’ve walked past twice a day for the last year or so and never managed to set foot in. I’ve always got a feeling that the place would be too hoi- polloi for me, the kind of person who doesn’t mind a shabby interior or lack of dress code once his pint and choice of company are acceptable. While I got the great company and a good pint, I still felt a little out of place, my bad, not the pubs.
The Beautiful interior- from europealacarte.co.uk
Vying with Davy Byrnes for the title of Dublin’s most beautiful interior, the Church, which you’ll be suprised to learn used to be, wait for it… a church, still retains many of it’s old features. While it’s not the kind of place you’d go to to watch a game, or for a casual pint after work- this place is a no runners affair, and with pints at €5.50 (rising to €5.75 after eleven for some reason) you can guess the kind of crowd they’re aiming for. As I said, the place is absolutely stunning both inside and out- even the toilets look fantastic. A large enclosed smoking area with gazebos dotted around for shelter, patio heaters, shrubbery and candles finished off the decor.
I’m trying not to be hard on the place, for while it wasn’t my cup of tea, we had a great night there- two great friends of CHTM were celebrating their wedding vows (uh oh… does that mean we’re getting older?) and they did so in style. The place is well spread out, and though I’ve heard it gets a little hectic on the ground floor on Friday nights, a mezzanine/ balcony rings the exterior wall of the building, a great place to retreat to if the crowd gets too much below. There’s also a club below, we didn’t venture that far, having found a nice spot outside, we settled ourselves there.
To summarise, it’s a beautiful bar, with a large selection of beers which, while expensive, are thankfully good. It has a great smoking garden, I’d argue and say the best in Dublin for its location. We had a great night in there, (major congrats to J & K) but I’m not sure if I’ll be back. The three trips to the ATM that night put paid to that!
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
I always thought it was pretty cool/creepy being able to have a drink while reading the gravestones cemented in the walls.
Great history to the place too (from their website):
Important historical figures associated with St. Mary’s include:
* Arthur Guinness – Founder of Guinness Brewery was married here in 1761.
* Sean O’Casey – Playwright & Author of ‘The Plough & The Stars, “Juno & The Paycock’ & ‘The Shadow of a Gunman’ was baptised here in 1880.
* Theobald Wolf Tone – United Irishmen Founder was baptised here in 1763
* John Wesley – Founder of the Methodist Church delivered his first Irish sermon here in 1747
* Jonathan Swift – Author of ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral attended services here.
* The Earl of Charlemont and Irish Volunteer attended services here.
* George Frederic Handel’s Messiah was first publicly performed in Dublin in April 1742 on Fishamble Street and it is known that he regularly used the organ here to practice.
Buried within the grounds are:
* Mary Mercer – Founder of Mercer’s Hospital
* Lord Norbury –“The Hanging Judge” Ordered the execution of Robert Emmett in 1803.
I believe I was admiring your runners in said venue on the night in question
Just a quick point:
“I’ve always got a feeling that the place would be too hoi- polloi for me…”
I don’t think your using the term ‘hoi-polloi’ correctly, it means the “the masses; the common people”. I assume you mean the opposite?
I think I meant “Hoyti toyti.” Or something similar. You know me- nowhere too common!
Amazing – just doing a bit of research on Churches that now have a different function in the city – and whaddya ‘no – there you are full of usefull useless info.
Go hXci
Haha, cheers Roxy!