New documentary takes a look at Smithfield's iconic The Cobblestone pub

A new documentary, Made in Dublin: The Cobblestone | The Fight For Irish Music, looks at Smithfield's iconic pub and cultural space.

Reflecting on The Cobblestone's past, the documentary features a look at how the pub's owner, Tom Mulligan, took an old early-morning market pub and turned it into the cultural institution it is today.

The almost 18-minute film explores the multi-generational story of The Cobblestone, and how it was saved by the local community back in 2021, when the pub was under a threat of closure as part of a redevelopment plan to convert it into a nine-storey hotel.

Ultimately, Dublin City Council denied the scheme planning permission after public outcry and protest.

Reflecting on The Cobblestone's role in the contemporary Dublin music and culture scene, the documentary features interviews with the pub owner and his son Tomás Mulligan, accompanied by trad music in the background.

The film, made by filmmakers Simon J.James and Caddy Munnelly, features a score that includes 'Cold Old Fire' by Lankum.

According to the description of the documentary: "When Tom Mulligan’s father arrived in Dublin in the 1930s with a fiddle under his arm, there was no place to play."

"Playing traditional music or expressing Irish culture was suppressed and pushed to the fringes. Decades later, Tom established The Cobblestone in a derelict corner of Smithfield, creating a much needed sanctuary for those same tunes."

The Cobblestone documentary is the second episode of Made in Dublin video series by NO18 Films. The project is dedicated to the artisans, innovators, and characters that define the culture of the city. Exploring the living fabric of Dublin, the series reflects on its past and asks questions about the future.

Watch Made in Dublin: The Cobblestone | The Fight For Irish Music below: