This is an image we found on Hedigans (the Brian Ború) FB page. The same photograph appears in Tony ODohertys book on Glasnevin. Weve no date for the pic but believe the adjoining house seen here was built at the same time as the pub but was deconstructed circa 1970. Tony recently gave us a copy of an article from the Irish Grocer dated March 1934 that contains a write-up on the Brian Ború pub. From the article and Tonys book we understand that both premises were built around 1850 and purchased by Denis Scally, the original licencee. We dont know if he commissioned the building, but Denis, an astute businessman who had many other interests in the commercial life of Dublin city certainly put the premises on the map by cleverly adopting the local association with the Battle of Clontarf (supposedly the bould Brian pitched his tent nearby). Behind the pub he installed Irelands first beer garden, a place of resort that proved a huge attraction, in particular on Sunday afternoons. The beer garden, modelled on its German counterpart, included what were termed Drinking Carriges, a collection of open air thatched roof huts with benched seating (think smoking area) which allowed female companions of the male customers to participate in a bit of social imbibing, a practice that was frowned on in those less enlightened days (think Victorian attitudes). The beer gardens were finally abandoned by a later owner in 1911. The Dalcassian theme was extended to the house next door which we believe Mr Scally called Momonia, the Latin name for Munster. The upstairs of the pub still contains a unique marble fireplace surround with a distinctive Irish theme featuring a sculpted harp as its centre-piece. Trish Jolley Nunes, a regular contributor to our page was down that way earlier in the year and posted the attached pic of it. (Thanks Trish). The premises remained in the Scally family, who also owned the nearby Botanic House, until 1892, when ownership transferred to an Ignatius Conroy. It passed to the Hedigans in 1904. This year the Hedigan family are celebrating one hundred and ten years association with the pub. The Kavanagh family in Prospect Square can beat that by at least a couple of decades. There cant be very many pubs in Dublin that can boast a family history like these two.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 22:56:19 +0000