The Palace Bar marks 200 years of history
Pictured celebrating 200 years of The Palace Bar is third generation owner, Willie Aherne
Dublin’s historic Palace Bar turns 200 this October. Established in 1823, it’s one of the city’s last original Victorian pubs. A 200-year-old porter has also been created especially for the anniversary with Guinness from Arthur Guinness’s original recipe book dating back to 1823.
While modern bars have emerged, the staple situated on Fleet Street is a nostalgic haven and over the years has been a backdrop for discussions on state affairs, careers, and sporting events.
To mark the celebration, the venue unveiled a replica of a 1940s Irish Times cartoon portraying The Palace Bar as the heart of Dublin culture. The pub also commissioned artworks, including one of Seamus Heaney and plans to launch a book of short stories and a video series, Talking Walls, sharing its history.
Willie Aherne, owner, The Palace Bar, said: “Our customers open the doors and walk into another world. We’ve stayed faithful to the ethos of the traditional Victorian Pub – there is no music, no TV’s other than for the big GAA games, just good conversation, quality Irish drinks and a lot of craic. People come here to talk, to debate, to recite and for good company. From generation to generation the clientele has changed, but our ethos, the ambience, our hospitality, and the character of the Palace Bar remains constant. The Palace bar has been collaborating with Guinness since it was established, and we’re delighted to have their support for our bi-centenary celebrations. Guinness even sourced a recipe from an original recipe book dating back to 1823 held in the Guinness Archive and created a special 200-year-old porter for the occasion.”
