The small seaside town of Dalkey (Co. Dublin) is currently mourning the end of one of its oldest institutions: the Irish pub “The Queen’s”, has just announced its definitive closure. A closure caused by the coronavirus lock-out: the suspension of the plant’s activity for such a long period was fatal.
The decision was far from easy, but owner Tom Mulcahy had to make it: facing COVID-19, The Queens pub had little chance of making it.
The news provoked outrage among Dalkey residents and foreign travelers, who considered the pub to be part of Ireland’s cultural heritage.
Nevertheless, the period of confinement, and the government’s decision to close Irish pubs until July, caused significant financial damage to this institution. The owner had to announce the sad news in a letter to his staff:
I have no doubt that this has been a difficult time for you and your family. And it is with regret and great personal sadness that I inform you that The Queens Limited will not be reopening and has ceased trading.
I regret to inform you, therefore, that The Queens is about to embark on a process of mass redundancy.
All of Ireland greeted the news with sadness, calling the closure a “real shame” in view of its history and importance to Irish heritage.
The Queen’s pub first opened its doors in 1745 (and was officially licensed in 1787). This welcoming Irish pub was a real piece of history in its own right, and one of Ireland’s oldest drinking establishments. Dalkey’s inhabitants loved its authentic atmosphere, and spending long hours with friends!
So it’s a true legend who’s taking his leave. Unfortunately, this is not the first historic establishment to close: as a reminder, Bewley’s Oriental Cafe, a historic café founded in 1927 in Dublin, also caused a stir by announcing its closure in May 2020.
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