Henry Grattan's pub has been closed for some time, leaving a sore hole in the fine mile of pubs that is Baggot Street. So a lot of people were delighted to see that it opened its doors again on Thursday night with a fine old shindig of a party. Owner Declan Doyle and Peggy Bather, who is now the manager of both Doyle's on Fleet Street and the new Henry Grattan's had invited a whole clatter of sports stars.
In keeping with the pub's traditional role as a "rugby pub", rugby players Ciaran Fitzgerald, Terry Kennedy and Tony Ward were invited to come and partake of a free bar. Invitees from the racing world included commentator Tracey Pigott and jockey Charlie Swann, while Shane Broderick was also hoping to join the opening night festivity.