McDaid’s changes hands: the Doheny & Nesbitt’s family takes on the Harry Street literary pub

A new set of custodians

McDaid’s on Harry Street, just off Grafton Street, has been sold. Oliver and Paul Cosgrave have sold the pub, along with the Druid’s Chair in Killiney, to brothers Eoghan and Paul Mangan Jnr, whose family runs Doheny & Nesbitt’s on Baggot Street. The Currency broke the story on 14 October, and the Irish Independent and the Business Post followed. The price hasn’t been disclosed.

Behan, Kavanagh and the rest

Brendan Behan, Patrick Kavanagh and Flann O’Brien all drank at McDaid’s, and it has been part of Dublin’s literary legend for decades. MWM Solicitors, which advised on the sale, says the Cosgraves bought McDaid’s in 1999.

What they said

The Mangans said: “To take over the mantle and become the new custodians of both McDaid’s and The Druid’s Chair is a huge privilege for us… our sole focus is to protect their character and their history for decades to come.” (Extra.ie)

The Cosgraves said in a statement: “The legacy of McDaid’s is now passed on, in safe hands again, for all to continue to enjoy this unique building in our city of Dublin.” Oliver Cosgrave is retiring after 40 years in the trade.

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