The Little Museum of Dublin is proud to announce the launch of A Little History of Neary’s, a brilliant new publication by Dr Daryl Hendley Rooney that uncovers, for the first time, the remarkable story of one of Dublin’s most beloved pubs. Created in partnership with Neary’s Bar and Lounge, the book is filled with stories of colourful characters, from Phil Lynott and Maureen Potter to Brenda Fricker and Flann O’Brien. A wealth of archival treasures and never before seen photographs decorate the book throughout, providing an unprecedented insight behind Neary’s crimson curtains.
From the Licensing Act of 1872 and the dramatic days of the 1916 Easter Rising to the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s, Neary’s Bar and Lounge has stood witness to Ireland’s social, political and cultural evolution. Hendley Rooney’s meticulous research brings this rich history to life, showing how a single pub in the heart of Dublin became a stage for more than a century of national change.
Speaking on the book, author Daryl Hendley Rooney said “Neary’s has always been more than a pub. It is a living piece of Dublin’s cultural memory, a place where stories gather and history lingers in every corner. My hope is that this book captures some of that magic and honours the generations who have made Neary’s what it is today”.
More than a history of a bar, A Little History of Neary’s is a celebration of the enduring charm of a Dublin institution that remains deeply woven into the cultural life of the city. Hendley Rooney invites readers to pull up a stool, settle in, and discover the story behind Dublin’s greatest theatre bar.
A Little History of Neary’s is now available for purchase at the Little Museum of Dublin Shop (D02 Y066) and online at https://shop.littlemuseum.ie/.
