Luck o’ the Irish
now in 92101
By Kelley Dippel
Downtown News
03/22/01
Anyone longing for a taste of Ireland now has reason to dance a jig. Dublin Square,
the newest Irish installation in the Gaslamp Quarter, has officially opened its
authentic doors to the public.
But the Publican, Samme Ladckie, didn’t stop at simply making the pub feel
Irish – he literally made it authentically Irish. Everything in the establishment
was hand crafted in Ireland and shipped thousands of miles to the Gaslamp Quarter – right
down to a 550 year-old cast-iron fireplace and 150 year-old clock that tells
the time in Ireland.
“Every stone, every piece of furniture was brought over from Ireland, and
put together by Irish people,”
Ladckie said. “Even the restrooms
are from Ireland. The tiling, the mirrors,
everything came from Ireland. We’re
definitely an authentic and traditional
pub.”
Ladckie got the idea to bring Ireland to San Diego from his many ski vacations
in Canada. After spending days on the slopes, Ladckie and his friends would unwind
in a little Irish pub at the bottom of the hill and “just have the best
time.”
After constant encouragement from his friend Jim Lee, a developer in Vancouver,
Ladckie finally decided to go ahead with the idea. “I was hooked,” he
admitted.
The Lebanon native, who has been living in America for 34 years and in San Diego
for the past 23, came downtown last April to look around. When he saw the location
he knew that was the perfect place. Then he traveled to Dublin for four weeks
and met with the Guinness people, who acted as a consultant in helping make an
authentic Irish pub – right down to finding the right people to run the
pub. After visiting 85 pubs and drinking approximately 7 pints a day, Ladckie said
with a laugh that he was well on his way to making Dublin Square.
Ladckie came up with the design idea for exterior of the pub from typical shop
fronts located on Dublin’s famous Grafton Street, where people can sit
and watch the blissful surroundings as the world passes by them. Inside, the
Horse Shoe Bar is a replica of Killkenny’s 19th century Tynan’s Bridge
House Bar. It is made from solid Irish oak, and every detail has been reproduced
down to the moldings, panels, and hand carvings. The bar creates a truly unique
identity and is a fitting tribute to the originality and character of Ireland’s
heritage pubs.
Further inside, the Victorian Lounge is a replica of the old Shelbourne Lounge
in Dublin City, with its original cast iron fireplace, Dublin City bench seats
and period chairs. The interior of Dublin Square completely recreates the feeling
of an old Irish Victorian pub.
“When you come in here you can’t help but feel like you’re
in Ireland,” Ladckie said.
Not only will patrons feel like they’re in Ireland, but they will taste
Ireland too. From the Guinness to the Gaelic steak, Dublin Square has not left
any stone unturned.
This is most obvious from the first sip of Guinness. Ladckie has worked to make
his key room the “only one like it in California,” he said. “Each
keg has it’s own line – everything is controlled, right down to the
nitrous and CO2.” He has 20 separate lines going straight from each keg
to the bar so there is no interruption in flow. “It’s done exactly
to Guinness specs. That’s what makes the Guinness taste absolutely perfect – that’s
the way to get the perfect pint.”
Dublin Square also offers the finest spirits from all over the world, according
to Ladckie. Whether it costs $2 per shot or $200 per shot, patrons can get whatever
they want in the pub, he added with a chuckle.
Of course, everything in run by the Irish. One of the managers, Andrew Noone,
is from Gallway and the Sioux chef, Charlene Kenny, is from Dublin and cooks
the “most delicious shepherd’s pie,” Ladckie said. Dublin Square’s
menu is full of all sorts of Irish favorites, like corned beef and cabbage, beef
braised in Guinness and traditional Irish stew cooked with farmhouse-grown lamb.
Ladckie will also be offering specials to teach the common folk how to dance the
Irish jig. Every Wednesday night and Sunday brunch the Dublin Square dance team
comes in to not only entertain audiences but also give free lessons.
“People can come down and learn how to dance and be Irish,” the Publican said. “This is not just a business – we have a good time with
great people. When you leave here you can’t help but feel like you just
left Ireland.”
Dublin Square is located at 554 Fourth Ave. The pub is open from 11:30 a.m. to
1:30 a.m, offering happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and live
music from 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday. For more information, call (619) 239-5818. |
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Dublin Square, 554 Fourth Ave., is
so authentic that every part was brought over from
Ireland, even the staff.
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