The Auld Triangle Pub – Locations Menus History Ireland

The Auld Triangle pub refers to a collection of Irish establishments that draw their name from a famous song originating in Brendan Behan’s 1954 play “The Quare Fellow.” These venues, found primarily in Dublin and Macroom, County Cork, represent a distinctive corner of Irish pub culture where literary heritage and traditional hospitality intersect.

Unlike chain establishments with standardized branding, The Auld Triangle name appears across multiple independent venues, each maintaining its own character while sharing a common cultural reference point. This article examines what is known about these locations, their menus, their historical connections, and what remains unclear about their ownership structures.

Where is The Auld Triangle Pub Located?

Research confirms two primary locations bearing the The Auld Triangle name in Ireland. Searches for venues in Loughrea and London returned no direct matches, though a Booking.com listing references a property in Loughrea under that name.

Dublin Location

The Dublin establishment operates as Auld Triangle Bar & Restaurant, situated at the junction of Gardiner and Dorset Streets in Dublin 1. The venue occupies a prominent position in the city’s Northside, an area rich in traditional pub heritage. The exterior presents a distinctive appearance characterized by limited windows, creating a somewhat fortress-like impression against the urban streetscape.

Patrons who have visited describe the interior as moody and atmospheric, though staff members consistently receive praise for their friendliness. The decorative scheme reflects Irish cultural and political themes, with walls adorned featuring Irish Republican memorabilia alongside GAA murals depicting sporting scenes such as a Kerry footballer pursuing a Dublin opponent.

Macroom Location

The Macroom venue occupies a beautiful old stone building on Killarney Road in County Cork, bearing the postal code P12 AX81. This location presents a marked contrast to its Dublin counterpart, emphasizing dining experiences rather than purely pub-focused offerings.

The venue operates across two distinct spaces: Dans Bar provides a more casual atmosphere, while Nights Restaurant offers a formal dining setting and accepts function bookings. Operating hours run from Tuesday through Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM, extending to 10:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The establishment holds a 4.2 out of 5 rating based on 209 reviews and ranks third among 27 dining options in Macroom, spanning Irish, bar, international, European, and pub cuisine categories.

• The Dublin venue draws its identity from the Brendan Behan song featured in “The Quare Fellow”
• Macroom emphasizes food service across multiple dining areas with function booking capabilities
• Both Irish locations share the name origin but operate independently
• US and other international venues exist but fall outside the scope of Irish-focused queries
• No ownership connections between Dublin and Macroom locations were identified in available sources
• Visitor ratings for Macroom indicate generally positive dining experiences

What is on The Auld Triangle Pub Menu?

The Dublin location maintains an extensive food menu emphasizing local Irish cuisine. Detailed menu information was available for the Dublin venue, while the Macroom establishment had limited menu data accessible.

Dublin Menu Highlights

The Dublin kitchen prepares daily specials alongside standard offerings. Notable dishes include Chicken Schnitzel featuring breaded fillet with salad, chips, and garlic-mushroom cream; Braised Featherblade of Beef served with horseradish mash, honey carrots, and brandy-mushroom sauce; and a Seafood Pie topped with parmesan pesto crust.

Main courses span traditional and international options, featuring Roast of the Day, Roast Salmon Supreme with white wine cream, Chicken and Vegetable Curry with rice, Cottage Pie, Spaghetti Bolognese, Beef Lasagne, Fish and Chips in beer batter, Thai Red Prawn Curry, and Grilled Sirloin Steak with pepper sauce or garlic butter. Sandwich options include Hot Roast Ciabatta, Toasted Special with ham, cheese, tomato, and onion, and Chicken Goujon Wrap.

Drink Selection

The pub maintains a traditional Irish pour with Guinness available at €4.00 and Beamish ranging from €3.60 to €4.00. These prices reflect standard Dublin pub rates for quality draught beer.

Macroom Menu Information

During service restrictions, the Macroom location offered takeaway items including their Thai Red Prawn Curry and Beef Burger. Reviewers praised the variety and quality of takeaway offerings, with particular mention of desserts including cheesecakes. Full menu details for regular service were not available in accessible sources.

What is the History of The Auld Triangle Pub?

The name The Auld Triangle traces directly to Brendan Behan’s play “The Quare Fellow,” which premiered in 1954. The song embedded within the play functions as a lament sung by a prisoner, describing life inside Mountjoy Jail and the daily rhythms governed by the prison bell.

Origins of the Song

Brendan Behan, a prominent Irish writer with deep connections to Dublin’s literary scene, incorporated “The Auld Triangle” into his play examining prison life. The triangular reference points to the bell that signaled daily routines within the institution, creating a recurring motif throughout the narrative.

The lyrics evoke themes of incarceration and freedom, with lines referring to “the auld triangle goes jingle-jangle” that have become embedded in Irish cultural memory. This musical element gave the song a life beyond the original stage production.

Establishment Timeline

The Dublin venue was established to honor this cultural reference, creating a physical space themed around Behan’s work and the broader traditions of Irish storytelling and political engagement. The precise founding date was not specified in available sources.

The Macroom establishment similarly adopted the name, though available documentation does not clarify whether this occurred through intentional homage or coincidental naming. Both venues existed as operating establishments during the periods covered by accessible reviews and documentation.

1. 1954 — Brendan Behan’s “The Quare Fellow” premieres, introducing “The Auld Triangle” song to audiences
2. Early establishment — The Dublin Auld Triangle Bar & Restaurant opens, adopting the Behan reference as its thematic identity
3. Recent period — The Macroom venue operates from its Killarney Road location, offering brunch, lunch, and dinner services
4. Present day — Both locations continue operating with distinct identities, menu offerings, and visitor reviews documenting the experience

Who Owns The Auld Triangle Pub?

Investigation into ownership structures across The Auld Triangle locations yielded limited concrete information. No specific ownership details were identified for the Dublin venue despite review of the establishment’s official website and third-party references.

Similarly, the Macroom establishment’s ownership structure was not documented in accessible sources. The two venues share the name and cultural reference but may operate as entirely independent businesses without common ownership. This represents a notable gap in publicly available information about the establishments.

A Booking.com listing references a “The Auld Triangle B&B” in Loughrea, though the nature of any connection to the pub establishments in Dublin and Macroom remains unclear. The listing’s inclusion in accommodation databases does not confirm operational or ownership relationships.

Understanding The Auld Triangle Name

The name The Auld Triangle functions as a cultural artifact rather than a corporate brand. Multiple independent establishments have adopted the name, presumably to capitalize on the literary associations and the evocative quality of Behan’s work.

This phenomenon mirrors broader patterns in Irish pub culture where establishments reference significant cultural moments, historical figures, or literary works to establish identity and atmosphere. The connection to Irish Republican themes visible in Dublin’s decor suggests the venue appeals to patrons interested in this aspect of Irish heritage alongside those drawn to literary associations.

“In the female prison there are seventy women… I wish I was inside now and never to be free… the auld triangle goes jingle-jangle”

— Excerpt from “The Auld Triangle” as referenced in The Dublin Publopedia

The song’s themes of imprisonment, longing, and the rhythms of institutional life resonate with those interested in exploring Dublin’s complex cultural landscape. The pub provides a physical space where these abstract cultural references become tangible through decor, naming, and atmosphere.

Key Sources and References

Documentation of The Auld Triangle venues draws from several source types, each contributing different perspectives and reliability levels to the overall picture.

The Dublin Publopedia provides historical and cultural context, drawing connections between the venues and Brendan Behan’s work. This source offers the most detailed account of the name’s origins and the Dublin establishment’s character. The official website supplies current menu and contact information for at least one venue.

TripAdvisor reviews offer visitor perspectives on both Dublin and Macroom locations, with ratings and detailed comments providing practical insight into visitor experiences. The Booking.com reference to a Loughrea property, while present in search results, could not be verified as an active venue.

Cross-referencing these sources reveals consistent themes around Irish cultural heritage and traditional hospitality while highlighting gaps in ownership documentation and complete menu availability, particularly for the Macroom location.

Summary

The Auld Triangle pub concept represents a distinctive intersection of Irish literary culture and contemporary hospitality. Confirmed establishments in Dublin and Macroom share the name and cultural reference but appear to operate as independent venues without documented common ownership.

The Dublin location offers an extensive menu with traditional Irish focus, distinctive atmospheric decor, and drinks priced competitively for the city center. The Macroom venue emphasizes dining experiences in a historic stone building, maintaining solid visitor ratings and community positioning within the local restaurant landscape.

The name’s connection to Brendan Behan’s “The Quare Fellow” remains central to understanding these establishments’ cultural positioning. Visitors interested in exploring Irish pub culture with literary connections will find relevant experiences in Dublin, while those traveling through County Cork have an additional option in Macroom. The Aircoach Cork to Dublin Timetable may assist with travel planning between regions.