Renovations have been ongoing in Molloys on Talbot Street, which is now under new ownership and management. During the renovations they started to explore the extensive underground tunnels that lie beneath the pub.
It’s one of the 16 remaining Victorian era pubs of Dublin, in that it retains the design characteristics of the time. It does, however, predate that period.
Shoeless Foot Productions are a video production company that have been documenting the ongoing progress in Molloys. In one of their videos, they explore the nearly pitch dark tunnels that exist under the pub. That video is available at the bottom of this article.
The tunnels appear to extend beyond the grounds and foundation of the building that Molloys exists in. The cameraman and his guide explore the network using flashlights on smart phones.
A lot of the tunnels are in use as storage areas for the pub, including for kegs. But, there is a significant proportion of them that seem unused, and some lead to doorways that are closed, and probably have been for decades at least.
At the guide points out, part of the underground that they are standing on, was once the overground of Dublin and was exposed to the sun and the elements.
It’s a remarkable look into the tunnels that are the subject of much rumour around the city. We’ve all heard the stories of tunnels running around Dame Street, and allegedly from Molesworth Street to the Dáil. There may well be several city centre pubs with access to underground tunnels. We had previously written about the alleged existence of a tunnel underneath Brogan’s pub on Dame Street.
The descent begins at around the 50 second mark.
The pub itself is now open for business and looks fabulous. You can view the complete renovation on the Shoeless Foot Productions YouTube channel. Link.
