261) The Black Lion (Dillon's) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, D10

Whiskey bonder, wine merchant, Beamish broker, spirit grocer. A bar, a lounge, a pub & restaurant and an old-fashioned coaching inn, this is the oldest pub in Inchicore. It stands guarded by its black lion stone statue over the door on the corner of Emmet Road and Grattan Crescent. Inside is a spacious woodland. Intricately carved features can be found throughout and open fires are well fed. An impressive staircase leads up to the restaurant where wooden ceilings meet a sharp apex and large chandeliers dangle over all.

Once, back in the mid-seventies, Gill and Ron Stephens, the parents of Andrew, attempted to quench a deep thirst in this very establishment. Ron asked for two pints of Guinness to which the barman replied ‘Sorry, I can’t serve the lady a pint.’ Ron then asked the stubborn old shithead if he would serve his wife two half-pints instead - which he grudgingly agreed to do. He poured one full pint for the gent followed by two little glasses for the lady. The heavy liquid was beginning to shift and swirl and settle itself when suddenly Ron called a halt with a main shout: ‘you can stick your fuckin stout!’ 

And lo, how quickly they did go, back over the threshold out of darkness into bright light they did scarper - to catch their fill of raiment from the sun as they did soar, amid the thunderous roars of the bawling barman and the livid black Lion ever present on the Crescent, vowing forever to never return.

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