Pub 21 – Grand Central (Dublin City)

Pub #21 is Grand Central Dublin (Visited March 2022)

Next up on our tour around every pub in Ireland is pub 21, The Grand Central on O’Connell Street in Dublin City Centre 🍺

The Grand Central Dublin was formerly a bank. It’s a really cool looking place. If you take a look at the pictures you will see the tiled ceilings and some interesting doors and former safes knocking about the place from it’s banking days. There are two areas on the ground floor and if you venture downstairs there’s another bar.

It’s in a really handy spot on O’Connell Street. It is right beside the Luas Line that will take you up to the Point Depot (3 Arena) So get those pre gig pints into ya. They do nice food, a decent Irish Coffee and its a nice place to meet friends after work. We have popped in here for many a pre gig pint or 3 before heading up to the Point Depot ourselves (3 Arena) 

Time for a bit of #welovehistory this is a bit of a mad one courtesy of the Grand Central’s website.

The broadcasting of the Proclamation of an Irish Republic via shortwave radio in 1916 is considered by many to be the first pirate radio broadcast. One of the groups involved with the rebellion, led by Joseph Mary Plunkett, wanted to use the latest technology to spread the message of Irish revolt.

Having commandeered the Irish School of Wireless Telegraphy at the corner of O’Connell Street and Abbey Street – where the Grand Central Bar now sits – the group set up a ship’s wireless systems to broadcast a shortwave radio transmission, with the hope that a passing ship near the country would pick it up and report back to the US.

The message issued in a burst of Morse code was: “Irish Republic declared in Dublin today. Irish troops have captured city and are in full possession. Enemy cannot move in city. The whole country rising.”

Back to today and back to the pints. On the day the Guinness wasn’t great but it’s usually a lot better. The Irish coffees are top notch in here.

Plenty to like about this place and it is definitely worth a visit.