'Strange and slightly goofy': US tech firm books out seven pubs on Dublin's Dame Lane
A TECH COMPANY booked out seven pubs, and a barbershop on Dame Lane last night to entertain guests at an IT conference.
All of the pubs were turned into open bars, with food going for free for those attending too.
From around 6pm to 11pm, most of Dame Lane became a private, mini Temple Bar for employees and guests of Kaseya, a US-founded IT Solutions company (valued at $2bn), that was in town for its Dattacon Europe conference over in the Convention Centre.
Today, publicans were tight-lipped on the obvious question that comes to mind: how much exactly would that set you back?
The man pulling pints in the self-described 'family owned boozer' Dame Tavern professed that he knew nothing, though he claimed that extra was paid to bigger venues, and those that offered food (Dame Tavern offered a pizza menu in partnership with Pi Pizza).
A regular at the bar told
The Journal
today that the conference goers were from 'all over Europe, the States, just a few Irish'.
'I came for my usual after work pint and couldn't get in, so I sussed it out,' he said.
This reporter braved the sunshine to visit the pubs that took part including DisnDat, JT Pimms, the Stag's Head, The Voyager, 4 Dame Lane, and The Bankers Bar.
Publicans were hesitant to estimate an overall cost for the shindig.
Advertisement
The collective word on the street, however, is that we're talking 'somewhere in the region of half a million euros, once you factor in what the bars were paid, the entertainment, and the security.'
The venues were paid varying fees, and live entertainment was put on in all of them. At one stage, Irish dancers put on a show in the middle of the lane.
In Sam's Barbers, the manager Mark tells
The Journal
that the whole thing was pretty tame.
'We were flat out from 2pm until 11pm at night. We must have done between 50 and 60 haircuts. They were a friendly bunch, and no one was in a bad way, actually,' he said.
It's understood all this came about a few months ago when a man who worked for an events company popped into a few of the bars on the street to inquire about whether they'd be interested.
A meeting of publicans was convened, and the terms and conditions were agreed.
Two bars that weren't open when the man called around missed out, unfortunately.
'It's never happened before that someone has rented out the whole lane like that, and it's the kind of thing we need more of, it went really well,' Mark said.
Another bar manager said the night was 'strange, and slightly goofy, but quite fun'.
'They were all IT types, so they didn't actually drink that much, like, imagine if a company from here put on seven open bars,' he said – which seems best not to imagine.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
38 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Dr Eva Orsmond: ‘Irish women need to look after their bodies and stop putting their kids before their health'
Orsmond, who was on the panel of experts on the now-defunct Operation Transformation, also said she went on her first diet at the age of 11 and makes no apologies for it. The diabetes specialist, who runs clinics in Dublin and Galway, is known for her acerbic tongue and unapologetic straight-talking, and said she is 'frustrated' by Irish women. 'I often ask my Irish clients who the most important person in their lives is? They might say, 'Oh, my husband' or 'My children' and that is nonsense,' she said. 'It shouldn't be like that – that is the wrong answer. It should be yourself. There is nothing wrong with liking yourself – how could you like someone else if you don't like yourself? 'And really it should be your partner and not your children, because children should come afterwards. I really believe that. 'There is nothing wrong with liking yourself, because how could you like someone else if you don't like yourself?' The Finland-born doctor said she started dieting as a schoolgirl, on the advice of her mother, and has no regrets. 'I like being slim because it is good for me and to be honest, I am quite vain. I was on my first diet with my mother when I was 11 to lose a few kilos, so dieting is in my DNA,' she said. 'I cannot complain about my childhood because I didn't have so much, but the best thing I would say that my mother gave me was respect for my body and looking after myself. 'I'm very vain, I like to look as best as I can. That doesn't mean that I go to the gym with make-up on or look great all the time, but I like to fit into nice clothes'. Orsmond is the first guest on the second series of the Under the Grill podcast, with celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and co-host Caoimhe Young. In each episode, a well-known Irish personality chooses a dish from their childhood and Dundon cooks it up in his kitchen, setting the scene for some warm conversation. Orsmond, who has two grown-up sons, worked in her homeland, as well as in Bangladesh and Namibia, before moving to Ireland in her mid-30s and making Dublin her home. She said she has great admiration for Irish people and the Irish 'mentality'. Orsmond said she hopes to meet a 'nice Irish man' and loves being in the public eye and being recognised when she is out and about. Irish people are so polite 'Ireland has only brought goodness to me. Irish people are so polite,' she said. 'I think it's once in the last 25 years that somebody has approached me on the road and said something negative. It's actually very nice for somebody like me who is an immigrant. When I came here I didn't know anyone. Nobody. Not one person. 'It's nice because it makes it obviously so homely and there is this thing, you know, when you go to shops and people talk to you. 'There as a lady in Dunnes Stores the other day and she was presenting, you know, some food demonstration and she started to talk to me like we knew each other.' Under the Grill is on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Inside the Tattle Life scandal: The gossipy website that became the ‘most hate-filled corner of the web'
Business owners Donna and Neil Sands won a landmark defamation case against the online platform that tore influencers, celebrities and TV presenters to shreds. But who was behind the vitriol and why did they do it? Kirsty Blake Knox tries to make sense of online trolling It was a friend who first brought Tattle Life to the attention of Irish business owner Neil Sands. Someone on the site had opened a thread about his wife Donna Sands' fashion brand Silkie. 'And what they were saying, you wouldn't repeat,' Mr Sands says.
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
‘You'll be pitched everything, from crypto to your cousin's cafe' –€250m EuroMillions winner warned not to get scammed
The new multi-millionaire, who bought the ticket in Cork, will probably be urged to invest in everything from crypto to a cafe, financial experts said. Today, lottery bosses are expected to reveal the shop where the winning ticket was sold. The winner, who has made themselves known to National Lottery HQ, has been cautioned not to throw their money away on scams or poor investments. Large numbers of lottery winners around the world end up going broke because of scams and bad investments. Financial adviser Colm Power said the winner should avoid high-risk investments. They will need to invest much of the money to stay ahead of inflation and to ensure the money retains its buying power, he said. Be cautious – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is Mr Power, who is managing director of employee benefits and wealth at professional services firm NFP, said: 'Avoid high-risk ventures. You'll be pitched everything: from crypto to your cousin's cafe. Be cautious. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.' Conail Flynn, the executive director of financial advisory firm LHK, said the winner needs to seek out impartial financial advice. 'Be sure to look at all your options and to get impartial investment advice,' Mr Flynn said. 'Be wary of scams. Don't let any exuberance around your Lotto win see you throw caution to the wind and throw your money away on an investment scam or a poor investment.' Mr Flynn said the EuroMillions winner should get a tax adviser, a regulated and independent financial planner or adviser, and a specialist probate solicitor. 'It's important to sit down with the right person to discuss what you should do with your money, especially if you are a young individual whose parents may have passed away and who may not have anyone to guide you,' he said. Financial adviser Glenn Gaughran said the winner should conduct a thorough assessment of potential financial advisers before appointing one. Mr Gaughran, who is head of business development at the Independent Trustee Company, said: 'Before choosing a financial adviser, contact a number of them and compare their fees, qualifications and experience. 'Find out how much the financial adviser will charge, if ongoing advice will be provided and if so, what the cost will be.' He said the winner should also ask what other payments the financial adviser receives: for example, if they are paid commission from the financial services firm they are selling products for. The latest EuroMillions winner will be one of the richest 100 people in the State. The record-breaking win surpasses the €175m record for the largest cheque ever presented to an Irish player, in February 2019.
