It is said to house both stacks of Guinness, and Brogan's Bar in Dublin is also home to several ghosts. Guests and staff have long been talking about strange things happening in the pub after the last call.
On a busy stretch of Dame Street, right next to the historic Olympia Theater, sits Brogans Bar, a place where Dublin's laughter mingles with whispers from centuries past and a few ghosts floating in stories.
Long before it became known under its current name, it was called Leonards and already had a reputation as one of the oldest and most characteristic taverns in the city. It also served as The Viking Inn, one of the first gay bars in Dublin.
It is said that the bar has the largest collection of Guinness memorabilia outside the brewery. In its low ceilings and time-worn beams, stories of politics, rebellion and revelry seep into the walls like spilled whiskey. It is said that Michael Collins himself regularly visited here and, over a silent glass of beer, plotted the future of Ireland. However, not all of Brogans' guests were so basic to spot.
Brogan's Haunted Bar
Those who close the party after the final rounds have long reported strange happenings in the shadows of the bar. Soft footsteps echo across the wooden floors when no one else is around. The Olympia haunted theater next door has also fueled rumors that the building has a ghost of its own.
As with the theater, the haunting in this bar is considered somewhat undiscovered, although evident. The glasses rattle as if disturbed by undetectable hands. On one disturbing occasion, the door was forced open with such force that staff thought an intruder had entered, but the pub was empty and still. There are also reports of mysterious footsteps after closing time.
So what could be haunting the Brogans? Could this have something to do with the alleged secret tunnels under the building? The pub is situated opposite the antique entrance to Dublin Castle. According to local legend, there is a secret passage beneath Brogans that once ran directly under Dame Street and led into the heart of Dublin Castle. No one knows exactly when it was built or for what purpose, but many believe it was used for tactful meetings, smuggling or escapes during troubled times.
Today it is said that the entrance is closed, although some people claim that they feel drafts rising from the basement and hear dull rustling sounds below. Perhaps the passage is not as closed as it seems. When the lights dim and everything quiets outside, Brogans Bar is a reminder that Dublin's history was never truly buried.
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Brogans Bar: A secret passage to the past
It is said to house both stacks of Guinness, and Brogan's Bar in Dublin is also home to several ghosts. Guests and staff have long been talking about strange things happening in the pub after the last call.
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