Thomas House

One of the finest alternative bars in Dublin, Thomas House is a haven for all manner of music fans from the Emerald Isle and beyond. We caught up with the co-owner Kevin O’Kelly, who tells us about why he started it and what makes it special. Thomas House is located on 86 Thomas Street, Dublin. Find more details at www.facebook.com/thomasdublin

“Thomas House was always place that I used to drink in and DJ’d in over the course of a few years,” Kevin O’Kelly explains. “I’d been doing bits and bobs in the music industry before I decided that I wanted to be my own boss and have my own bar and venue. “So, the opportunity came up about seven and a half years ago, at the time when pubs were closing down in Ireland one a week. It wasn’t exactly an attractive proposition at the time, but we just decided to jump in and see if we’d sink or swim.” What’s made it last over the years? “I’d say it was a degree of us trying to revive certain unique nights in Dublin, like having punk nights or ska nights or rockabilly gigs. Those genres hadn’t yet gotten their revival like they have now, so we were catering for people who didn’t have many places looking after them – music-wise. I think that helped us get a foot in the door in a tough industry. “It’s a place that has always catered for outsiders. What we were doing wasn’t necessarily unique, it just hadn’t been done in Dublin; there wasn’t a place where all the music tribes could get together without killing each other. We made that.” As well as it’s unique atmosphere, the venue is now famed for bringing some huge international acts to the cosy setting over the years. “I was kicking about in London working as a promoter, and I always knew I could rely on a bunch of musician friends throughout the world to one day, somewhere down the line, play a gig in a small little cellar that holds 80-100 people. “So we’ve had Boz Boorer’s band The Pole Cats playing there – Boz has been a long term friend of mine. Then we’ve had the New York Dolls, Queens of the Stone Age, Jerry Dammers, The Angelic Upstarts, Eddie Piller – who helped popularise acid jazz. There’s been so many people over the years, people who by rights shouldn’t play in a venue to 100 people. Imelda May would come in from time to time – she hasn’t forgotten her Liberties roots – as would the likes of Phil Jupitus and Dara O Briain, who’d always stop by when they’re playing at Vicar Street. “I think people who travel to Dublin get the vibe of Thomas House. There’s places like this in New York and Berlin and London, so a lot of musicians appreciate it. We’ve made a good name for ourselves.”