Our History

This revered icon of Irish Licensed heritage has dispensed sustenance, shelter and social culture to the citizenry of Dublin for the last six centuries. Totally unique amongst Dublin pubs, The Swan is an authentic Victorian pub that is descended from a Medieval Inn. There has been a continuous licence on or close to this site since 1661 when Sir Francis Aungier developed what was then Dublin’s widest street.

YE SIGNE OF YE WHITE SWAN

Known by the above appellation during medieval times, this premises is listed as The White Swan Inn when a lease of Michael Cuffe in 1723 conferred title to proprietor Ambrose Lee in consideration of rent of £12 per annum.

Anne Sleator, doyenne of the 19th century Dublin licensed trade, arrived here in 1848 just as the ‘Young Irelanders’ were about to launch their abortive rebellion against British Rule. But the wily Anne preferred to concentrate her energies on building a reputable family hotel business in the three floors overhead. By the time Anne sang her ‘Swan’ song in 1897 this was one of Dublin’s leading Grocery, wine and spirit stores with a rateable valuation of 104 Guineas.

THE SNUG

Experience

A VICTORIAN HERATAGE PUB

The unspoilt Victorian showcase that you see before you today was undertaken by thomas F. O’Reilly in 1897, and by this stage the name of the premises was familiarly shortened to ‘The Swan’. Georges Street was then the most important thoroughfare in Dublin’s narrative and The Swan did a thriving wine, beer and spirits trade in addition to essential grocery items like tea, sugar, coffee, cocoa, snuff and semolina.

Interior of a vintage-style pub with a long wooden bar counter, wooden stools with green cushions, and rich wood paneling on the walls and ceiling, with pendant lights hanging from above.
A vintage wall clock with Roman numerals enclosed in ornate black wood carving and a wooden frame, showing the time as 12:03, labeled 'A. Footwer Dublin'.
Close-up of a vintage door lock with the words "TRESE" engraved on it, mounted on a wooden door.
Close-up of a vintage label reading 'Oriental Porter Dublin' by John Lynch, Swan Bar, Dublin, with some wear and small holes.
Close-up of an old, worn whiskey label with text indicating it is bottled by John Lynch, Swan Bar, in Dublin, Ireland.
Close-up of a vintage Guiness beer label showing the harp logo and the text 'Guinness Stout Limited'.
Inside a cozy bar with dark wood paneling, a small round table with stools, windows letting in natural light, and a chalkboard menu listing wines.
Close-up of a patterned brick floor with red, yellow, and black bricks forming curved and spiral designs.
Close-up of a rusted metal surface with a crest or emblem featuring a fleur-de-lis design.
Interior of a bar with dark wood paneling, a small windowed partition, and wooden stools with green cushions in a cozy pub setting.