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O'DONOGHUES Notable

14 MERRION ROW AND 15 MERRION ROW, Dublin

Address14 MERRION ROW AND 15 MERRION ROW
CountyDublin
EircodeD02 C671
Websiteodonoghuesbar.ie
Licence refS0029
🚬 Smoking area

🏭 Heritage-listed building

NIAH building record

Built: c.1810 · NIAH rating: Regional

A Georgian house that was converted into a public house and has been long established as a celebrated music venue. The proportions of the building are characteristic of the period and the building retains salient features, such as parts of a Victorian pubfront and of the interior cornice to the bar. Along with its neighbour, No. 15, with which it is now amalgamated, this building contributes to the historic character and urban grain of central Dublin.

🆕 Notable pub

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From the record · Deep research

What the archives say

Independent reporting and heritage records on this pub, drawn from a curated list of Irish news outlets, Revenue Commissioners, NIAH, and the Dictionary of Irish Architects. Every claim links to its primary source.

Listing historyMusic historyArchitecture

Revenue's renewed-liquor-licence register lists licence ref S0029 as a Publican's Licence (7-Day Ordinary) for O'DONOGHUES at 14 Merrion Row and 15 Merrion Row in Dublin city, with O'DONOGHUES (MERRION ROW) LIMITED as licensee.[1]

NIAH identifies O'Donoghue's at 14 Merrion Row as a regional-rated building with architectural interest.[2]

NIAH records its original use as a house and its survey use as a public house.[2]

NIAH describes the building as an attached three-bay four-storey house with integral carriage arch, built c.1820, with a c.1890 shopfront.[2]

The NIAH record says No. 14 is amalgamated with No. 15 and that a shared alleyway leads to a courtyard and outdoor bar.[2]

NIAH describes the building as a Georgian house converted into a public house and long established as a celebrated music venue.[2]

The Irish Times reported in 2025 that O'Donoghues (Merrion Row) Ltd was owned by the Barden family, including publican Oliver Barden.[3]

The same report said the Barden family acquired the 15 Merrion Row establishment in 1988 and had run it since then.[3]

The Irish Times reported that the bar began as an unlicensed drinking establishment in the 18th century before later operating legally.[3]

The same article said O'Donoghue's became a traditional Irish music hub under Paddy and Maureen O'Donoghue during the 1960s.[3]

The Irish Times also said The Dubliners first began playing at the bar and later became a regular fixture there.[3]

Sources  (3)
  1. Revenue Commissioners · Register of Renewed Liquor Licences · 2026-05-08
  2. NIAH · O'Donoghue's, 14 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, DUBLIN · 2016-07-01
  3. Irish Times · "Profits soar at Dublin's famous O'Donoghue's pub" · 2025-04-24

PubHub lore

Local notes

Established

Built between c.1810 and c.1900.

Architecture

A Georgian house that was converted into a public house and has been long established as a celebrated music venue. The proportions of the building are characteristic of the period and the building retains salient features, such as parts of a Victorian pubfront and of the interior cornice to the bar. Along with its neighbour, No.

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