Popular Irish pub that first opened over 100 years ago goes on sale for €3.25m

A POPULAR Irish pub that first opened over 100 years ago has hit the Irish market for €3.25million – and it’s steeped in history.

The Ivy House in Drumcondra, Dublin, is now for sale along with the 0.13 acre site it sits on.

Located to the east side of Drumcondra Road Upper, it’s in a prime location sitting directly opposite to the Dublin Skylon Hotel.

It also has 17.8 metres of frontage onto the busy Drumcondra Road.

Just 4km north of Dublin city, it’s within close proximity to a range of attractions including the National Botanical Gardens, Croke Park GAA Stadium & Museum, Tolka Park / Shelbourne Football Club grounds and Fairview Park.

The campuses of Dublin City University St. Patrick’s and All Hallows are both beside the property.

The neighbourhood is lively, and according to the 2016 Census there was a population of 10,278 including the nearby areas of Phibsborough, Glasnevin, Whitehall and Fairview.

Drumcondra is a popular residential, commercial and recreational area just outside the city centre.

The property comprises of an original detached three storey building with a basement.

There are substantial double and single storey extensions to the rear, and an adjoining single storey building to the south.

The main building is made from brick and block construction, with a traditional timber and stone clad shop front finish at the ground floor level.

It has a red brick external finish on the upper floors with a rough dash plaster finish to the remainder of the property.

On the ground floor there is a concrete floor with suspended timber on joist flooring above.

The lounge and public bar are on the ground floor while the two upstairs floors have toilets, offices and storage. 

The double and single storey extension to the back of the property alongside the single storey building are also made from concrete block construction with concrete flooring at ground floor level and suspended timer on joist flooring to first floor level.

All of this is under a flat roof covering.

The property has an enclosed rear yard which can be accessed through a gated entrance connecting to the side and rear service laneway.

It has previously been used as a beer garden.

The Ivy House also has two adjoining lock-up retail units which, according to the listing, combined per Planning Application Reference 3889/18 secured planning permission (expiring 26th May 2024) for incorporation into the licensed premises accommodation.

The first building is a detached two storey derelict former residence, made from traditional brick, block and stone construction with concrete flooring at ground floor level and a suspended timber floor at first floor level, external smooth plaster rendering under “A” pitched tiled roof.

The second building is a semi-detached single storey warehouse made from concrete block construction with a concrete floor at ground floor level under a metal clad corrugated “A” pitched roof.

According to the listing, it has an external concrete block finished to front elevation incorporating vehicular access via roller shutter.

The listing explains: “Lean-too extension of concrete block construction with concrete floor under flat mineral felt roof with smooth plaster external rendering incorporating traditional timber window openings.”

The pub had been operated by the Carthy family for three generations since 1913 and saw bands such as The Script perform live there.

Recently the pub switched from a night time entertainment hub to a more traditionally focused food and drinks venue.

The popular pub is also associated with John F Kennedy’s visit to Ireland in 1963.

It’s reported that when he visited President Éamon de Valera in the Áras, some of Kennedy’s sisters expressed an interest in attending a traditional Irish bar.

Fianna Fáil ministers Charlie Haughey, Jack Lynch and Paddy Hillery brought them to The Ivy House.

Reportedly, one of the sisters, Eunice Shriver, told a staff member that she thought the pub was a little luxurious.