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THE PALACE BAR Heritage

21 FLEET STREET, Dublin

Address21 FLEET STREET

CountyDublin

EircodeD02 H950

Phone+353-1-6717388

Websitewww.thepalacebardublin.com

Licence refS0086

♿ Limited wheelchair access🚬 Smoking area

🏭 Heritage-listed building

Built: c.1880 · NIAH rating: Regional

Established in 1823, the Hall family are noted as the earliest publicans of this premises. Street directories indicate John Sanford, a grocer, tea, wine and spirit merchant occupied the building from the 1840s. The current building is of Victorian appearance and is probably a late nineteenth century rebuild. The pub is of historic importance as Michael Collins is reputed to have used the snug for meetings during the War of Independence. Strong literary associations are also recorded with Patrick Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney and Flann OBrien frequenting the pub, as well as The Irish Times...

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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 historyCultural mentionsArchitecture

Revenue's renewed-liquor-licence register lists licence ref S0086 as a Publican's Licence (7-Day Ordinary) for THE PALACE BAR at 21 Fleet Street in Dublin city, with PALACE FLEET STREET LIMITED as licensee.^[1]

NIAH records The Palace Bar at 21 Fleet Street as a regional-rated public house with architectural, artistic, historical, and social interest.^[2]

NIAH dates the building to 1880-1900 and records its original and survey use as a public house.^[2]

NIAH describes a late nineteenth-century interior with timber panelling, stained-glass roof lights, a mahogany bar, and a snug.^[2]

NIAH says the Palace Bar was established in 1823 and records literary associations with Patrick Kavanagh, Seamus Heaney, Flann O'Brien, and Irish Times journalists.^[2]

The Irish Times reported in 2023 that the Palace Bar had turned 200 and that John Stafford opened it in 1823.^[3]

The same article said the Aherne family had owned the Fleet Street pub since Bill Aherne bought it in 1946 for GBP26,500.^[3]

The Irish Times reported that many visitors come to see the interior, which manager Willie Aherne attributed to a renovation commissioned by Patrick Hall after Hall took over the pub from Stafford in the mid-nineteenth century.^[3]

The same 2023 article said artist Harry Kernoff's work hangs there and that Alan Reaves's cartoon Dublin Culture decorates the rear wall.^[3]

The Irish Times reported in 2011 that bronze sculptures outside the pub commemorate Flann O'Brien, Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan, and Con Houlihan as Palace Bar patrons.^[4]

The same 2011 report said Irish Times editor R.M. "Bertie" Smyllie held informal meetings in the pub almost daily during his 1934-1954 editorship.^[4]

Sources (4)

PubHub lore

Local notes

Established

Trading on Fleet Street since 1823 — the pub celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2023.

Literary links

The Fleet Street Palace was the literary nerve-centre of mid-20th-century Dublin journalism — playwright, poet and reporter all drinking the same pints from the same counter.

Architecture

One of the best-preserved Victorian pubs in Dublin; the present interior dates from 1883. The famous back snug is the room Patrick Kavanagh called 'the most wonderful temple of art.'

Regulars

Until *The Irish Times* moved off Fleet Street in 2006, the Palace was the de-facto staffroom of the paper. Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O'Brien, Brendan Behan, Seamus Heaney and Con Houlihan all drank here. Four bronze plaques set into the footpath outside carry their portraits and quotes.

Reputation

Dublin's most pedigreed press pub; routinely listed among the country's top heritage pubs.

Memory wanted

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