Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
The pub at 81 Dame St (beside Crane Lane) has been a pub since about 1851.
This used to be numbered as 92 Dame St.
92 Dame St (beside Crane Lane) is listed as vacant in
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1841].
92 Dame St is listed as
Williams and Co., tea and coffee dealers,
in
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1843].
The street was re-numbered between 1843 and 1845.
81 Dame St (shown clearly as the same place) is listed as
Williams and Co., tea and coffee dealers,
in
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1845].
81 Dame St is listed as
Williams and Co., tea, coffee and spice merchants,
in
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1847].
81 Dame St is vacant
in
[Thoms, 1850].
It is
listed
as P. J. Burke, grocer and spirit dealer, in
[Thoms]
at least 1852 to 1862.
It is listed
as John Behan, grocer and wine importer, in
[Thoms, 1901].
It is
Ed. Quane, wine and spirit merchant,
in
[Thoms, 1914].
Mick Humphrys
is
listed there in
[Thoms]
from 1923 on.
Would have been called Humphrys' pub when he ran it.
Mick died there 1934.
His widow Angela may have kept it going.
Still called "Michael Humphrys" pub in
[Thom's, 1938].
Angela died 1940.
The pub
is listed as Terence P. O'Donnell, "licensed grocer"
and "wine and spirit merchant"
in
[Thom's]
at least 1945 to 1961.
It
was re-decorated in 1946
with an interior of wood from the
RMS Mauretania, the
sister ship of the ill-fated
RMS Lusitania.
The Mauretania was
launched 1906,
and was then the
largest passenger ship in the world.
It also held for many years the
record for
fastest crossing of the Atlantic.
It was
scrapped 1935, furnishings sold at auction.
After the re-decoration with the ship's wood,
the pub became called
"The Oak".
Though this name does not appear in
[Thom's]
for many years.
[Thom's, 1958]
still just lists it as "Terence P. O'Donnell" and does not mention any other name.
[Thom's, 1961]
finally
lists it as
"Terence P. O'Donnell (The Oak Bar)".
In the 1980s, "The Oak" was a liberal place. Some recall it as a "gay bar", though I went there in the 1980s and did not notice that. I think it would be more accurate to call it liberal and gay friendly.
"The Oak" later
became part of the "Thomas Read"
pub chain.
"The Oak"
was joined internally to the
"Thomas Read" cafe and bar next door.
The "Thomas Read"
pub chain
was wound up.
Both bars were
for sale in 2013.
The name "The Oak" is now used for both bars combined.
81 Dame St listed as vacant in
[Thoms, 1850, p.711].
81 Dame St listed as a pub in
[Thoms, 1852].
See also
listing
in
[Thoms, 1862].
81 Dame St listed as a pub in
[Thoms, 1914].
Location of 81 Dame St.
Beside Crane Lane.
Ordnance Survey of Ireland map.
Date modified: 1892.
From here.
The pub at 81 Dame St, Dublin
(now "The Oak").
"Thomas Read" bar on LHS.
"Balcony TV" on roof.
Photo 2007.
See full size.
"The Oak" (on LHS). Photo 1968.
From here.
Copyright status unknown.
"The Oak".
Photo 1999.
Wider view showing "The Oak"
at 81 Dame St
and, 2 doors away,
79 Dame St
(now Hackett's Bookmakers).
Photo 2007.
See full size.
Tiled floor at the door of "The Oak".
This dates from c.1923.
Same type of tiles as in the National Museum.
Photo 2007.
See full size.
See 1999 photo.
See 2019 photo.
See 2024 photo.
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