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SITUATED AT THE edge of the Phoenix Park is The Hole in the Wall, one of Dublin’s most renowned watering holes.
The building dates back to the seventeenth century and was historically used as both a coaching station and a tavern. The name refers to the days when soldiers stationed in McKee Barracks near Phoenix Park used to sneak off to the bar for a clandestine pint.
“They were served drinks through the hole in the wall into the park,” explains the pub’s current owner Martin McCaffrey.
McCaffrey has been involved in the pub for over thirty years, having dabbled in other pubs around Dublin 7 for a period.
“This was a family pub and then we bought Nancy Hand’s and Ryan’s on Parkgate Street,” he says. “I sold those and came back here and took over.”
Since then he has fully immersed himself in The Hole In The Wall, overseeing its rapid expansion. At over one hundred metres long, it is said to be the longest bar in Europe.
“What we’ve done is bought up cottages all along Blackhorse Avenue and it is now three hundred feet long,” he says. “It’s long and getting longer all the time.”
“By this time next year, it will probably be another hundred yards long.”
The space is now home to a pub, a restaurant, a coffee shop and a wine shop. McCaffrey says he has made a concerted effort to keep up with modern trends while clinging on to the pub’s unique charms.
Some of the trends it has embraced? They have collaborated with Rascals Brewing Co. to create their own house beer known as The Holer. There are plans afoot to launch their own gin early next year and they will soon be serving woodfired pizza in the pub.
“It’s traditional but it’s authentic. We have embraced current food trends, current coffee trends, current wine trends. It’s not as if we have stayed in the bygone era.”
“But it’s an authentic pub as opposed to a pseudo pub. People build these pubs and try to copy places like here. It’s not a faux pub.”
It’s the type of pub that attracts people from all walks of life – locals, tourists, celebrities. Patrons over the last few weeks have included the All Blacks and former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.
What McCaffrey really values, however, is the fact that The Hole in the Wall has become what he describes as “a real community pub”. Indeed it has its own 256 member-strong running club, a cycling club and a wine club.
“It’s a very special thing,” he says.
The pub really comes into its own at this time of year. Every year, it is transformed into a winter wonderland with the exterior and interior decked out in twinkling lights, tinsel, miniature Santas and whatever else you’re having.
“That tradition was something we brought from Nancy Hand’s,” recalls McCaffrey. “We did a big job there and people just really embraced the decorations. Over the last twenty years, it has just gotten bigger and bigger.”
“Now it takes one month to put the decorations up. We start on the 29th October and we aim to have it done by the night of our wine and craft fair. People in the area see it as the launch of the Christmas season.”
“It’s not tacky. We spend a lot of time and effort and energy to get it right. People are really shocked by the beauty of the place when they come through the door. It’s the beauty of the actual building and how it lends itself to this magical experience.”
Over the course of the Christmas season, the pub plays host to countless Christmas-themed events like breakfast with Santa Claus or a wine and craft fair. Proceeds from these events are donated to local charities like St Vincent’s on Navan Road and Temple Street Hospital.
It’s just their way of giving back to the local community, says McCaffrey. For instance, he explains how the annual craft fair raised over €3,000 for St Vincent’s on the Navan Road.
“We asked them what they felt would be the most beneficial use of €3,000 and they said, ‘Mats for kids with autism,’” he says. “So kids with autism can set up a gym, they can jump on a mat and they’re safe. That kind of thing is really nice to see.”
The way McCaffrey sees it, it’s the least they can do.
“We’re in a fortunate position where we’re in a good location and we have a good community.”
We’re just lucky to have the opportunity to run it and the energy to think up mad ideas all the time.
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Instant 3 years in jail.
Let them do their job.
Spot on. All emergency workers should be protected and allowed do their job.
Out government voted against doing mandatory jail time …. So it’s going to continue to happen unfortunately
why just emergency workers Joe?
Nurses should be in front line for same scheme. Not alone should firefighters be compensated the should have the right to turn fire hoses on the thugs that attack them.
Well said frank
That seems perfectly reasonable. Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment and if that can’t be provided they deserve compensation.
3 years in prison and a 25 thousand euro fine, if they are under 18 hit the parents for it, even if they have to take it from their welfare.
The 25k fine would be a waste of time , if they are trying to assault firefighters I’m guessing they don’t have that kind of money
No but % of earnings or loss of all welfare would focus the mind
Thats my point, If it cost the parents they might try teach them right from wrong.Some parents do try but some just let the kids run wild.A teenager does not start by trying to hurt the emergencey services, lm sure you will find smashed windows and annoying neighbours started it off.If it was niped in the bud at that stage then we would not have this problem.
I agree fine them and prison time but applying the penalty to parents…not sure about that one. You strive to bring children up with proper morals, respect for the law and others- but if you’re dependent is say 16/ 17, which is old enough to know right from wrong I would not like to have to pay €25,000.
Give them something akin to a student loan and let them repay it when they’ve copped on to themselves.
This might give the government the kick up the arse they need in legislating against these attacks
Assault is already illegal.
Not only is assault on the statue books but also a separate offence of assault on a peace officer which was extended to all emergency workers I.e nurses, doctors, paramedics and fire fighters.
it should be an automatic 10yrs for anybody that attacks any kind of emergency personnel
10 years jail and compulsory neutering.
I cannot agree more
They deserve it.
Why is this scheme only being proposed for firefighters in Dublin? Should it be in place for firefighters country wide?
Please can we bring in some form of Judge Dredd justice
Try telling a judge to give compo to a Garda, nurse or Firefighter. Dream on guys they don’t give a damn about any of ya….
This should apply to all nurses not just psych nurses
Compulsory jail time of 3 years with no remission
How about the guards and courts step in to make sure the little f’n scobies don’t do it? This claim for everything you can get society is going too far And SIPTU! !?? Don’t even start me. Overpayed and redundant union that should not have 1 member after the shafting they’ve achieved for their loyal supporters.
Yeah, unbelievable! A trade union trying to make sure its members are compensated for injuries at work! Whatever next???
The only way the government will get really serious about preventing assaults on emergency workers is if it starts to cost them more to do nothing than it costs to do something. And let’s see SERIOUS sentencing for anyone who attacks emergency workers. What kind of scut would attack a firefighter or ambulance driver?
Assume penalty for attacker not tax payer unless siptu want to contribute
I’m sorry guys but have to disagree. Where does this stop… its not only Fire Fighters that get assaulted, how about Nurses, Doctors, Social Welfare staff, bar workers, restaurant staff, security guards, teachers etc… Every worker that deals with the public are potential targets for assault. This is the public sector just looking for extra cash any way they can get it. The answer is simply jail the offender, that is adequate compensation.
So a firefighter gets seriously assaulted, say needed stitches on his face leaving his face permanently disfigured. You agree that he should receive no compensation what so ever.
As it is any employee (public or private)can take his employer to court if he is assaulted. This compensation scheme is designed to prevent it going to court in the first place and saving all parties (except lawyers) the money and hassle. It is already in place for Garda and should be for all front line workers who are subjected to this kind of assault on a regular basis. Before anyone says it NO. We didn’t sign up for rocks to be thrown at us.
Cormac, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If this scenario happened while on a night out in the pub, would you be compensated…..no. The tax payer is broke…. There is no pot of gold anymore….. The tax payer pays for the medics, hospital, and medication. Would you prefer if we gave an option to either compensate for an injury or fix the injury. I know what most would select. The old Fainna fail / tiger economy mind set needs to be expunged. The free money days are over.
To little to late. No longer represent the worker anywhere. Go away
Choo, chop, I can hear the gravy train.
So why only Dublin firefighters??? Would firefighters in the retained service not be entitled to compensation for being assaulted? IFESA looking after the full time again!
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