Big Tree, The

The Big Tree in Dorset is one of Dublin’s best known pubs particularly to the thousands who visit Croke Park every year. However very few realise that this is one of the oldest pubs in the city of Dublin. There has been an Inn and later a Tavern on this site since 1453. It grew to fame as the “Rose Tavern” back in late medieval days and is mentioned in all worthy historical accounts of those times.

The pub derived its current name in the aftermath of the 1798 rebellion when one of Dublin’s most notorious character’s John Claudius Beresford, Alderman of Dublin city and judge to the prerogative court, after a 60 second trial, 5 men were sentenced to be hanged at the spot outside the tavern where they were arrested. The tree that they were hanged from became known as the Big Tree and over the years the tavern became known as the Big tree Tavern.

The premises became even more closely associated with the legal community when un 1878 the premises was installed as the Petty Sessions Courthouse for the Drumcondra Region. Part of this Structure remains in what is the cellar of the Big Tree today. It creates a pretty picture of the courts trying to operate, with a pub in full swing underneath and every offender wishing he could be remanded in custody for a month – on the premises!

It is also worth noting that nobody has yet to prove whether the strange sounds that occasionally come from the cellers have any connection with the many unfortunates who spent their final hours in these Cells.