The Digital Projects section of Dublin City Public Libraries have over the past year done great work in sticking up old images of the City in times past. The latest collection to go online is one hundred and thirty or so images of Dublin pubs, some whose doors are still open, others who who live only in the memories of ex- punters. The full gallery can be seen here.
The Commodore, from Dublin City Public Libraries
The Swallow, from Dublin City Public Libraries
The site is a mine of photographic information, they have fantastic galleries on Dublin’s Sporting Heritage, the ’74 Dublin Bombings, “Missing Dublin” and now this. I look forward to more.
Billy Lavelles, from Dublin City Public Libraries
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Just read your very entertaining book over the Christmas and it brought back wonderful memories of growing up in Dublin in the ’50s and ’60s. You might be interested in our drinking as ‘late teenagers’ during this period.
In the ’50s pubs weren’t allowed open on Sundays unless they served a meal. However there were always ways of getting around this. Near the top of Church Street near the corner with what was then the Richmond Hospital was ‘The Tap’. Here you could purchase on entry a plate of ‘ham’ for 2/6 (2 shillings and sixpence). You wouldn’t eat it but you’d pass it back to whoever was behind you in the queue. A pint of Guinness was 1/3 so you could get 16 pints for your pound. If you had one!
Our second drinking spot on a Sunday was the John Redmond Club which was on Granby Row. Here only corked bottled stout was available for a shilling, so you’d get 20 bottles for your pound. We also frequented both the British Legion Club on Bachelors Walk and the RAF Club on Earlsfort Terrace. You had to be signed in by a member and wouldn’t be displaying an Easter Lilly at either.
The various rowing clubs, the Irish Press Club and the Bankers’ Club on Stephen’s Green were also ‘patronised’ by us…
Thanks for the comment WJ Myles. Fantastic info! Just what we’re looking for.
drank in the commodore and billy lavelles but not the swallow which was on queen streeet and i think it was burnt down,this sticks in my memory as my dad and I were on our was to work in rathfarnham on that saturday morning