The claim
Stretching along the edge of the Phoenix Park wall, the Hole in the Wall bills itself as Europe's longest pub, about a hundred metres of linked rooms. It claims to have opened in 1651 as Ye Signe of Ye Blackhorse. Its present name recalls Victorian soldiers from the nearby barracks being served drinks through an opening in the park wall.
What the records show
The 1651 and the name Ye Signe of Ye Blackhorse are published by Visit Dublin, and a travel guide says the pub's own history is where the year comes from; no primary document was found and nothing the pub publishes was traced. The present name dates from the late 1800s, when drink was reportedly passed to soldiers through a gap in the park wall.
What to look for inside
- Claims to be Europe's longest pub (c. 100 m)
- Name derives from serving soldiers through the Phoenix Park wall in the late 1800s
Visiting
The Hole in the Wall is in Dublin, Ireland, at Blackhorse Avenue, Phoenix Park, Castleknock, Dublin 7, D07 V663. We do not list opening times, because they change; the pub’s own site is the place to check before you set out.
Sources
- www.visitdublin.com/guides/oldest-pubs-dublin
- rebelatlas.com/destinations/europe/ireland/where-is-irelands-oldest-pub-10-historic-pubs-with-a-claim-to-the-title/
- www.theirishroadtrip.com/oldest-pubs-in-dublin/
- www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/excise/licences/liquor-licences.aspx
Know something we don’t?Suggest a correctionLast checked Sept 2026
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