Our History

Dublin; a city of life, hospitality and fun, with a pub culture that is famous throughout the world.  Dublin is Ireland's capital and Europe's most treasured city.  It is steeped in tradition and history.

Now, San Diego has it's very own piece of Dublin, snug in the corner of San Diego's Fourth Avenue. Dublin Square Irish Pub was manufactured by O'Sullivan Interiors and shipped thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean. It is an authentic Irish pub exuding the warm hospitality and fun that is typically Irish.

Where It All Began
Tynan's pub was first built in 1702 in Kilkenny Ireland. In 1857 it was bought and did up by the Darcy Family, close family relative to the present publican James Coady. In 1912 it was bought by the Tynan family, the Tynans paid 2000 pounds for the bar at that time. The bar would later be bought by the Coady family, James Coady, wife Caith and sisters Breda and Mary. On a trip to Ireland Publican Samme Ladckie enjoyed Tynan's Pub so much, he decided to build an exact replica of Tynan's in San Diego.

In 2001 the two pubs were twinned in a ceremony held in Kilkenny, Ireland. In attendance was the Lord Mayor of Kilkenny, the Coady family, Alf France - Guinness Development Manager, Michael Kough, Billy O'Sullivan of O'Sullivan Interiors of Waterford, the Loyal Patrons of Tynan's Pub and Publican Samme Ladckie. In 2002 Twinning ceremonies were also held in San Diego at Dublin Square.

On the banks of Ireland's meandering River Suir, in Waterford, is the home of O'Sullivan Interiors, Ireland's most authentic pub design company.  Stemming from an area steeped in tradition and historical background, where the River Suir meets the River Nore and the River Barrow to form one of Ireland's most scenic and treacherous estuaries, fierce Viking raiders created a settlement they called "Vatre Fiord".  This area, that resembled their own Scandinavian land, remains today and is called the City of Waterford.

Another ancient settlement was created in Kilkenny on the River Nore, by the Vikings' descendants, the Normans.  These majestic invaders built castles and courts that dotted Ireland's landscape, and many of them are still evident today.  In the passing of time, the Normans adopted Irish customs, intermarried with local Celts, and, it is said that they became as Irish as the Irish themselves.

With ancient Celtic games and the great Irish pastime of story telling, fun and music, the Celtic tradition flourished.  Ireland became famous for it's pub culture over the years, especially with the introduction of a certain Irish porter called Guinness.

The Dublin Square Irish Pub's shop front is typical of the original fronts on Dublin's famous Grafton Street, where you can sit in the blissful surroundings watching the world go by.  Time stands still in the Irish heritage pubs.  The Horse Shoe Bar in Dublin Square Irish Pub is a replica of Kilkenny's 19th Century Tynan Bridge House Bar.  It is made from solid Irish oak, and every detail has been painstakingly reproduced, down to the moldings, panels, and hand carvings.  The quality of O'Sullivan Interiors' Irish craftsmen is very evident.  The bar creates its own truly unique identity and is a fitting tribute of originality and of the character of Ireland's heritage pubs.

The Victorian Lounge is a replica of the old Shelbourne Lounge in Dublin City, with it's original cast iron fireplace, and Dublin City bench seats and period chairs, all of which compliment the stained glass snug screens.  The interior completely recreates the feeling of an old Irish Victorian bar.

"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your sails.
May the sun shine fresh upon your fields.
And may God hold you in the palm of his hand."

-Your Publican