Yet another Dublin institution is about to be put on the block. Smyth's pub on Haddington Road in Ballsbridge is for sale with a price tag in excess of £2.5 million - at that money, it is almost certain the old-style local and long-time media hangout will be snapped up for development. Apart from the odd lick of paint in the "Select Bar" and a bit of reupholstering in the lounge, the pub hasn't changed much over the years. Indeed, there was consternation a while back when a canopy was put up in the yard at the back for fear that Mrs Smyth and her son, Dave, who run the pub, had notions about creating a fancy beer garden.
However, the panic passed when it became clear that the canopy was to shelter the overflow of punters from its tiny bar on a rainy night.
Smyth's has to be one of the last remaining residential pubs in Dublin and certainly in Dublin 4. Developers will be quick to notice that only a third of its available space is given over to the pub side - the rest is residential accommodation. Mrs Smyth has lived upstairs for the 47 years that the pub has been in the family and she makes rare, but brief, visits downstairs. Not that she would have any fears about the orderliness of the place with Joe Kavanagh behind the bar. In the long years that he has been there he has become as much of an institution as the pub itself. Ever notice that when advertising copywriters need a name for a barman for a TV or radio advertisement they pick Joe? Well, he's the original Joe.
As well as its very loyal, regular clientele, the pub does particularly well out of the rugby internationals and in recent years has become a very entertaining place to watch Manchester United's games thanks largely to Dave's fervent ABU stance pitched against the passion of some of the pub's advertising industry regulars for Man U. Every time there was any development in the area - and Smyth's is now sandwiched between two much taller, newer buildings - there were rumours that the pub was to be sold. Well it is now, because having witnessed massive changes in the Baggot Street and Haddington Road area Mrs Smyth is finally retiring. Gunne is handling the sale and the auction takes place on September 29th.
