The Hop House on Parnell St, for some unknown reason, has been a popular haunt for lefties, radicals and fellow travelers for a number of years. There has been a public house on the premises for at least 163 years. It was first named The Rotunda Tavern and then The Shakespeare.
I’ve tried my best to give you a snapshot of the history of 160 Parnell Street (formally Great Britain Street).
Thanks to Shaneew147 for looking up Thoms directory:
1948 – P. O’Shea, Shakespeare Bar
1938 – A.T. Duffy, wine and spirit merchant
1927 – Michl. Hayes, wine and spirit merchant
1914 – Mrs. Potter, grocer & wine merchant.
1894 – Sarah Daly, grocer. & wine merchant.
1884 – Andrew Daly, grocer & wine merchant
1879 – Sarah Ward, spirit merchant
1872 – John Ward, spirit merchant
1863 – John Ward, spirit merchant
1852 – John Ward, Rotunda Tavern
1848 – Daniel Shelly, vintner
The first newspaper reference I’ve found is from 1917 and shows the bar up for sale:
May 21, 1917. The Irish Independent
In 1921, Edward Bullock was up in court for selling whiskey, which he said was, ‘watered by mistake’:
August 27, 1921. The Irish Independent.
In 1923, The Freeman’s Journal reports that the proprietress was fined £10 for having customers in the bar at 10:20pm:
Jan 27, 1923. The Freeman's Journal.
In 1925, The Shakespeare is put for auction:
12 June 1925. The Irish Times.
In 1971, The Irish Independent gave an interesting description of the pub:
Jan 16, 1971. The Irish Independent.
Also from 1971, this old advertisement which was found by DFallon:
An tÓglach, Summer 1971 (DFallon)
Two snaps from 1974, in the aftermath of the loyalist bombing.
The Shakespeare, 1974.
Another image of the pub in the 20th century.
The Shakespeare, 1974. [2
The Hop House/The Shakespeare. 2010 (Photo - JayCarax)
jaycarax
dfallon
hXci
Great stuff.
I didn’t take much interest in this post when I saw it at the time.
However, in the last week I have discovered that my grandfather (the guy who was fished out of the Liffey at Eden Quay in 1918) had a brother, Francis, that I didn’t know about.
Francis died in the North Dublin Work House in 1928 and is listed in his death cert as “late of 160 Parnell Street*.
I have now incorporated this information into the page of my family history which shows present day views of where various members of the family lived.
http://photopol.com/lived/lived.html#FrancisMortimer
I have also included a link to this post.
Rath ar an obair.
Cheers Póló