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The Brazen Head is Ireland's oldest pub. There has been a hostelry on this site since 1198, and the present building was constructed in 1754 as a coaching inn. The Brazen Head itself appears in documents as far back as 1653.
An advertisement from the 1750s reads:
"Christopher Quinn of the Brazen Head in Bridge Street has fitted said house with neat accommodations and commodious cellars for said business."
The Brazen Head is located on Bridge Street, the area where the original settlement that would become Dublin got its name. The Irish name for Dublin is Baile Átha Cliath (pronounced: Ball-ya-Awha-Clia), meaning "The Town of the Ford of the Reed Hurdles."
Beside the pub is Father Matthew Bridge, which crosses the River Liffey at the very spot where the original crossing was located. Here, reed matting was laid on the riverbed, allowing travellers to cross safely at low tide - which is exactly why an inn close to the bridge was always a good idea.
In the days when people travelled by coach, the Brazen Head served as a coaching inn and hotel, where teams of horses could be changed while weary travellers refreshed themselves with the excellent food and drink for which the pub has always been known.
Historical Connections
The Brazen Head is Ireland's oldest pub. In fact there has been a hostelry here since 1198. The present building was built in 1754 as a coaching inn. However The Brazen Head appears in documents as far back as 1653. An advertisement from the 1750’s reads:
“Christopher Quinn of The Brazen Head in Bridge Street has fitted said house with neat accommodations and commodious cellars for said business”.
The Brazen Head has borne witness to some of the most turbulent chapters in Irish history.
It was here that the United Irishmen planned their insurrection, and Robert Emmet used the pub as a base to plan the Rising of 1803. Emmet stayed in a room overlooking the main door so he could watch for approaching enemies. His rebellion failed, and he was hanged nearby on Thomas Street - ironically, the hangman himself was said to be a regular at the pub. Some say Emmet's ghost still haunts the Brazen Head to this day.
The pub was almost destroyed twice more: during the Easter Rising of 1916 and again in the Civil War of 1922. On both occasions, fierce fighting broke out just across the river at the Four Courts, with heavy gunfire directed at troops stationed on the corner outside the pub. In 1916, the rebel garrison at the Four Courts was led by Commandant Edward "Ned" Daly, later executed at Kilmainham Gaol for his role in the Rising. During the Civil War, Free State troops fired from the same positions outside the pub at Anti-Treaty fighters holding the Four Courts, which were ultimately consumed by fire, destroying many historical documents.
Today, the pub's walls display a unique collection of photographs from this turbulent period - a real sense of history that has to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
What's In a Name
The name "Brazen Head" comes from a 13th-century legend of a bronze (or "brazen") head mounted on marble, said to be able to predict the future. The head could reputedly answer any question - but only with a "yes" or a "no," so questions had to be phrased very carefully.
For what it's worth, had anyone ever asked it "Is the Brazen Head the best pub in Dublin?" - it would, without a doubt, have shouted "YES."
Literary & Musical Connections
The Brazen Head has long been a magnet for musicians, writers, and performers. Stars including The Dubliners, Tom Jones, Paolo Nutini and Imelda May have all taken to the stage here, while famous patrons have included Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers, Mary Black and Garth Brooks.
Countless other well-known faces from entertainment, sport and the arts have visited and enjoyed the Brazen Head's hospitality over the years - many of them pictured on the "Wall of Fame" in the Old Bar.
The pub's literary connections run deep, with strong links to playwright Brendan Behan and the world-famous James Joyce. Joyce even referenced the Brazen Head in Ulysses, noting that a visitor could get a decent meal there for a shilling.
OR PRIVATE EVENTS
The Brazen Head Today
Today, the Brazen Head remains popular with locals and tourists alike, having managed to retain its true "old pub" atmosphere while becoming one of Dublin's premier food and drink destinations. The craic is always mighty, with live music every night of the week, and it's said that one of the best pints of stout in the city can be had here - fittingly, given its location just up the road from the world-famous Guinness Brewery at St. James's Gate.
If exploring Dublin City has made you hungry, nothing hits the spot more than a traditional Irish meal. From our famous Brazen Beef Stew to our classic Fish & Chips, there’s something for everyone on our menu.
The Brazen Head is more than a great pub with great food. It's an experience that's a must for anyone visiting Dublin: history, atmosphere, craic, trad sessions, food and drink, all combining to create a place where there are no strangers - only friends, old and new, gathering to swap their own tales and adventures.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Brazen Head, where you can raise your glass and shout a resounding "sláinte" as you do.