The Harp Bar used to be the venue for the Naomh PĂĄdraig Celtic Supporters Club meetings. The notes for association football supporters clubs were a staple in the Evening Press and then the Herald when the Press went under. I donât know why but I used to read these every week. I can even remember the names of some of the guys who ran these supporters clubs. The Manchester United one was run by a Jimmy Pluck of Fettercairn. A guy called Neil Masterson in Mulranny in Mayo ran the Nottingham Forest supporters one. The small band of Manchester City supporters used to meet at the Plough Bar on Lower Abbey Street opposite the Abbey Theatre and the Flowing Tide. I donât believe there was ever a notice for a Rangers supporters club in the Press or the Herald.
Iâm sure there was some story akin to the one of the spilt in Irish cycling behind why there were rival Celtic supporters clubs in Dublin - there was the Dublin branch and the Naomh PĂĄdraig branch.
I was never in the Harp Bar and regret this. My oulâ fella worked upstairs in OâConnell Bridge House for years and I donât think he was ever in it either. Youâd occasionally see it disparagingly referred to by newspaper columnists in the 1990s. It was supposed to be a rough oulâ joint?
I was fascinated by it having an underground part (I think it did anyway). I used to imagine it as a rougher version of the pub in the TV show Cheers.
Then there was the Underground Lounge on Dame Street, complete with London Tube style sign. I was never in this either because I was not yet an adult when it closed.
Iâve heard this referred to as a legendary venue.
Loads of Shels fans in Mulliganâs. They donât like Rovers. They love the Duff. I told them I was there in 2008 when Steve OâFlynn scored a hat trick and their rocks couldnât break the windows of our bus.