WATCH: Demolition works start at Speaker Conolly pub

WATCH:

THE tearing down of The Speaker Conolly is currently underway after works began on Monday to tear down the old structure to make way for 55 apartments, a new pub and more.

Diggers are on site and are working to remove the structure of The Speaker Conolly in Firhouse, which closed its doors in July on a temporary basis after 41 years of business to accommodate the works.

Plans to demolish the well-known local pub to make way for 55 residential units were approved in March 2025 and a public house and restaurant, café, beauty salon, gym and medical centre with all associated site works are included in the plans.

The new apartment block will comprise of 17 one-bed apartments and 38 two-bed apartments over four to six storeys.

Enhanced pedestrian infrastructure, provision of communal open space, street furniture, car parking – both below podium and along the internal access road – electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking are also included in the plans.

The final night of The Speaker Conolly’s initial run in the local community coincided with the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.

Longtime staff of the Speaker expressed their gratitude for all the support they received over the years from their loyal customers, saying:

“We would like to sincerely thank every customer, friends, neighbours and staff members who have supported the Speaker Conolly over the past 41 years.

“Your loyalty, laughter, celebrations and memories have made the Speaker a true community landmark and a place we have been proud to call home.”

Named after William ‘Speaker’ Conolly of Hellfire Club fame, the pub was built for two Tallaght publicans, James Murphy (The Dragon Inn) and Harry Morton (The Firhouse Inn) in 1985.

Costing an estimated £600,000, local builder John McDermott developed the new pub, which served its first pint that July.

In 2023, the Moran family, who are synonymous with the Red Cow Inn and Red Cow Moran Hotel, reached an agreement with the Murphy family for the purchase of the Speaker Conolly for an estimated €3.5 million. The Moran Group is run by the six Moran siblings and their mother Sheila Moran.

In August, it had been transformed into The Snake Pit as the new season of Irish TV series Kin filmed scenes there.