Fight to be Crowned the Oldest Pub in Ireland: Sean’s Bar vs the Brazen Head
February 17, 2021
There has long been a debate over the oldest pub in the country but in 2004, Sean’s Bar in Athlone, Co. Westmeath was named in the Guinness Book of Records as the Oldest Pub in Ireland. There have been claims that the ‘Brazen Head’ in Dublin is in fact the oldest and the owners of both these premises even went on national radio to support their claims.
The main reason Sean’s Bar was finally awarded the title, was the amount of evidence found. The National Museum of Ireland has verified that the premises were first built around 900AD. While statements have been made that the ‘Brazen Head’ was founded in 1198AD, this is based primarily on word of mouth.
A lot of the evidence found at Sean’s Bar was discovered in the 1970s, during restoration. The walls were taken apart to reveal wattle and wicker underneath, connected using horsehair and clay. This process was common between the 9th and 13th centuries AD. It was agreed that the premises date to around 900AD, after some of this material was carbon dated.
Ancient coins or ‘tavern tokens’ were also found on the site, which would have been minted by landlords, for their customers to exchange for drinks. These coins and most of the wattle and wicker walls are on display at the National Museum of Ireland but, a portion of the wall is still kept in the pub and protected by glass for customers to see.
There is even research going on to see if Sean’s Bar can be classed as the oldest pub in the world. However, at the time it was built pubs did not need to hold a license and the year when alcohol was first served there cannot be confirmed.
Although no similar evidence has been found at Brazen Head, it has been listed as the oldest pub in Dublin. A small signature was found written on a window inside and although a magnifying glass is needed to read it, it has been classed as the oldest piece of graffiti in Ireland, reading:
John Langan halted here 7th August 1726.
So, why are some people certain that the Brazen Head dates back to the 12th century? During this time, slave trading was popular between the Vikings and the Normans, who often met on the banks of the Liffey. One suggestion is that ‘The Brazen Head’ took its name from the word ‘brazier’, a bucket used by guards at this time, to keep their hands warm.
However, it has been stated that the pub probably took its name from a nearby building known as ‘The Brazen Lady’ and was established between the late 16th and early 17th century. The oldest form of documentation mentioning the pub dates to 1613. This is a court certificate of ownership confirming that the building was the property of Richard and Eleanor Fagan.
‘The Brazen Head’ still has an interesting history. For example, situated in Dublin City Centre, members of the ‘United Irishmen’ took refuge here, during the planning of the 1916 Rising. The pub was badly damaged during the Rising and again during the Civil War of 1922.
James Joyce even refers to ‘The Brazen Head’ in Ulysses. There is another story that Robert Emmett may have planned the 1798 Irish Rebellion here, as the pub is close to Dublin Castle, the seat of British Rule at the time.
Today, Sean’s Bar is one of a small number of Irish premises with a preservation order in place for the inside and outside of the building. In his book, Have Ye No Homes to Go to, Kevin Martin states:
Conviviality and hospitality are deeply embedded in Irish culture and have found their best expression in public drinking. Unfortunately, Irish pubs are just another commodity now, but you can sense the history at Sean’s Bar. It’s their careful maintenance of that heritage that’s been their trump card.
Click here to read my article: ‘Irish Pub Culture: History and Contrasting Roles of Men and Women’.