110) Walsh, J. & Co. of Blackhall Place and Brunswick Street North, D7
A Stoneybatter favourite, perhaps perceived as being more upmarket and polished than the unkempt Glimmer Man. A fire burns brightly and is curiously placed right by the front door of the lounge so as if to immediately warm the wanderer. An authentic snug with a hatch to the bar can be gotten if you're quick about it. To sit beside the wood and stained-glass windows is deeply idyllic. Often a regular go-to for the good people of Lilliput Press in the wake of a book launch on their nearby premises, led by their silver-haired and patrician gentleman publisher Antony Farrell (once hailed by a Dublin magazine as 'one suave fucker').
Publisher and ‘suave fucker’ Antony Farrell
Like every other pub it’s particularly proud of its excellence in Guinness, but that doesn’t stop the staff from pouring a beautiful Beamish at €4.50 a pint. The lounge has a defunct cast-iron U.S. Mail letterbox set into the wall, and a photo of the Dublin Spire taken mid-build which is a curio. The bar is sectioned with dividers and has a goodly number of nooks for fannies.
We were once served by a very beautiful barwoman from ‘away down the country.’ Regrettably, all beauty vanished just as soon she opened her gob. As loud as a lute she shouted her ‘fucks’ and ‘bolloxes’ up and down the bar as she wolf-whistled at a group of lads at the back of the room. Although markedly younger than either of us she repeatedly called us, condescendingly, audaciously, ‘boys.’ Our effort of passing her payment was met with ‘just leave it on the counter, boys.’ A shame - she was picture perfect without the sound. (It must be said, that over the years, this pub has become one of TDP’s favourites, and we have since been served by the said barwoman on many an occasion with the greatest of alacrity, cordiality and professionalism - therefore tempering our previous puerile remarks and forcing us to stick our tail between our lousy legs).
Tipplers Tip: every Tuesday the pub hosts an evening of FREE cheese and crackers for all its customers. #notfakenews. These wonderfully smelly evenings are named ‘Cheesy Chewsdays.’
Update as of 2018: J. Walsh & Co. is the winner of the highly coveted Pub of the Year Award. May a great many parsimonious patron engorge a smorgasbord with no charge of a Tuesday!
Tipplers Tip Number II: Sometimes on a Sunday a ceili session is held, so beware of the fascist organisers who would have one lower one's voice even when one is sitting a goodly distance away and not actively shouting. This is a public house! If you want somewhere private go fiddle in your bedroom.
Update as of September 2022: A placid showdown took place in a proverbial case of Lex Luthor v Nuclear Man, The Dublin Publopedians sat directly across from the Dublin By Pubers in the quiet part of this very pub. They never knew it was us! We were aware it was them - for they had announced themselves by phoning in ahead of their arrival creating some fanfare and whispers behind the bar. Anything for a free pint.
The glory of the wooden pub with its glowing snug
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