O’Reillys Pub

We’ve been calling it «The Pub with the Dog» for as long as we’ve been going, which should give you an idea of just how local and honest this pub really is. Sitting down tonight I was greeted by pub owner Thomas who made comfortable conversation on and off as he passed by. Spacious, wooden floored and warm on a cold December night, O’Reilly’s makes for a great night or a lovely lunch.
Predominantly a sportsmen’s pub, O’Reilly’s is packed on match days with D4 locals. Hang on, it’s packed on most days with D4 locals. Located just off the intersection of Sandymount Road and Seafort Ave, the pub is a few steps further than rival Sandymount House, but so worth the shoe leather.
Pints flow easily here — expect to pay Dublin standard prices for your Guinness or Bulmers. There’s a full bar with a few surprises for lovers of spirits, but the wine selection is limited at best. Can’t win ‘em all.
For those on the look out for a lovely place to spend a quiet evening, walk past the big green and white pub on the corner (the one with all the ad execs, tourists and aul wans) down Seafort ave till you see those hanging baskets of confetti-​light flowers.
Oh and yes, Molly, that absolutely gorgeous dog, is definitely in residence (dodge her water bowl as you head out to the beer garden) and happy to say hello. Be gentle though, she’s just weaned her first (and last) litter of pups and like any new mum is looking for a bit of a rest.

From the outside, during the summer, you can’t really see anything of O’Reillys as the façade is festooned with flower baskets… big ornate flower-​baskets that make it impossible to so much as find the door… but find it you must.
On the inside the pub is… well perhaps a little clinical or Spartan… it certainly doesn’t scream comfort but funnily enough that feeling doesn’t last, it is an easy place to like and the atmosphere is very pleasant. I suspect one of the reasons why you get so comfy is that wandering around like she owns the place and greeting everyone as though they are a regular is the Pub dog. A four year old golden retriever whose name escapes me but she is a dote and unquestionably adds to the place.
The real gem as far as I’m concerned is at the back of the pub. You know how every pub on the planet says it has a beer garden and upon investigation you find a 2 Metre square slab of concrete with a few potted plants? Well this place actually has a garden… one that would not look out of place behind any house, a nicely kept affair with a lawn and flowerbeds and of course, a dog kennel. It makes you feel immediately relaxed — I love it.