Pub review: O Briens, Sussex Terrace

O'BRIEN'S PUB in Sussex Tce., off Upper Leeson St., Dublin, has become one of the "in" swinging pubs of late, primarily because the lack of seating accommodation in the lounge encourrages social intercourse, as they say.

But it has had a long and distinguiished history, not least for being the venue where the "invincibles" cavorted before and after executing "the Phoenix Park murders" in the 1880's. The front bar also paid host to Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh and Sean Duignan who was known to sing the odd bar of a song there before the change of manageement.

Current clientele include football players - Tony Hanahoe and Ger Power are occasional customers - accountants, Provos, builders, nurses, teachers and other drop outs.

The former owner, Mick O'Brien used to live over the bar and died where. there is now a perfectly dreadful uppstairs lounge. The place is now owned by the Shaffrey brothers, formerly of Roscommon. Apart from. the addition of the above mentioned upstairs facility, they have also added the downstairs lounge which is the location for the social commumng for which 'the pub is deservedly renowned. The grafitti in the men's toilet are among the best in Dublin, while the entrance to the ladies' toilet has often proved one of the best staging posts in Dublin.