Uncover the history behind Devitt’s Pub with Bushmills

Brought to you by Bushmills Irish Whiskey

While Camden Street boasts a healthy offering of pubs, none are quite tied to the history of the street like Devitt's.

Dating back more than 150 years, much like Bushmills, it is steeped in history, serving generation after generation.

78 Lower Camden Street has been a commercial site since the mid-19th century, first operating as a lodging house before becoming a pub in 1871 under Christopher Clinch, serving tea, wine and spirits during Dublin’s Victorian boom.

Camden Street was then a thriving district, catering to both local residents and workers from nearby trades and markets, with the pub becoming part of a busy commercial and social streetscape that continues to evolve today.

Over the years, Devitt's has changed hands several times, with Patrick Ryan adding much of the Victorian character still visible today, including mahogany fittings, stained glass and brass detail.

The iconic pub has seen and endured major historic Irish events, including the 1916 Easter Rising, the War of Independence and the early Free State period, remaining open throughout.

In 1977, former Dublin hurler Willie Devitt bought the pub and gave it its present name, strengthening its links with Gaelic games and earning it the nickname “The Cusack Stand” for its GAA-filled interior. The walls became filled with GAA memorabilia, reinforcing its identity as a true hub for supporters on match days and beyond.

The Devitt family ran the pub until 2016, when Paul and Eoghan Mangan took over, carefully modernising the place while making sure it kept its traditional character - just like Bushmills smooth Irish whiskey.

Over 150 years of history on Camden Street, and over 400 years of Bushmills behind the bar, some things just belong together.