A Love of Food & Pints -2

Through famine, rebellion, civil unrest and economic downturns...one place remains...

A Brief History

Through ages and World Wars, Rebellion, Civil Unrest and Economic Downturns, one place remained the same…

1831

What started out as a private residence in 1831 the first owner John O’Neill, Hotelier and businessman foresaw an opportunity for success when word of a new cemetery was to be placed in Prospect, Glasnevin, and that this cemetery would be open to all of Dublin’s dead. As the main entrance would be ‘right’ next door to his residence, well, it certainly was an opportunity not to be missed…

John O’Neill converted the ground floor into a bar and a brisk trade followed as funeral corteges would await their turn to enter the large cemetery gate, where better to wait it out, other than warm interior of the bar. John’s daughter Susannah married a John Kavanagh on this marriage John O’Neill handed over the business to the Kavanaghs, nice wedding gift indeed. John Kavanagh’s name was put above on the facia, a name that is there to this day.

Mr and Mrs John Kavanagh not only had a busy public house but also raised a large family at No 1 Prospect Square, twenty four children no less. Three of their sons would travel to the United States to fight in The War of Independence, and where mentioned in the chronicles on The Battle of Gettysburg.

One son returned from his travels to find that the cemetery had moved the entrance to another location, causing a sharp fall in business. Undeterred he installed a Shooting Range and a Skittle Alley. Slowly as the area of Glasnevin became more populated, Prospect Square remained a quiet haven; the pub became a local to the workers of the cemetery and surrounding businesses.

In the early 1900s Josie McKenna Kavanagh from Howth Co Dublin was licensee. Josie had married the younger John H Kavanagh and she would become a driving force behind the business adding a grocery shop, some of the remnants can still be seen behind the bar today.  A private meeting room was also added, it is said many a republican meeting was held here in the early days of a fledgling Nation. Josie and John had four sons, Fintan, John H, Michael and Gerard  During Josie’s era the pub would be called either Josie’s, or The Widows a name that many locals used up till the 90s

The heyday of Josie

In 1943 Josie's son John M. Kavanagh took over, John ran the business alongside his brother Fintan. Their other brothers followed a trade, Michael in carpentry and Gerard into printing.

Circa 1980-notice no pitch roof.

In the 1970s Eugene Kavanagh brought the pub from his uncle (and Step-Father) and with Kathleen his wife raised their family while keeping the business going. In the 1980s a lounge, number 2, was added to the bar. This was more appealing to couples although children and crisps were not allowed in the carpeted lounge till 2000 when it was renovated by the Kavanagh family. The pub and surroundings have changed some but some things within the pub remain the same, no music allowed, no TV, there has never been a telephone. Stories abound of rowdy wakes one story is that the cream of Irish and International music descended on the bar in the 90s to mourn and celebrate a much loved Irish Folk singer, when the crowd started to ‘tune up’ they were quickly told ‘No Singing, No Music, No Exceptions’ simply because it would mean the regulars would sing every night, and they don't have a note between them. Although there is one or two that can hold a note?

The great thing about this bar is the continuous family link. John Kavanagh’s is perhaps the longest generational bar in Dublin and even Ireland. Often three generations of the family will be working side by side at any given time of day. So it could be a Kavanagh serving you Coddle, or pulling a pint. You never know who could be there, perhaps even one of the gravediggers from our neighbours next-door?

And it just keeps getting better, keeping true to it's origins.

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