Where everybody knows your shame…
t’s been through some changes over the years – including an ill-advised 
spell as a fully-fledged disco bar Soundz in the 1980s – but Dann’s is today still very much a big part of Greystones’ DNA.
t’s been through some changes over the years – including an ill-advised 
spell as a fully-fledged disco bar Soundz in the 1980s – but Dann’s is today still very much a big part of Greystones’ DNA.It’s pretty incredible to think that this little corner bar – attached to the side of The Beach House, alongside the small Fraggle Rock Lounge – is all part of a drinking hole that first opened its doors back in 1858.
Big Willie Dann
The name over the door is W. H. Dann & Son, William having taken over the premises back in 1900, from one John George McEntagart. Back then, it sold everything from milk to mulch, with its own coalyard also acting as farmland for mucky spuds and other vegetables.
William H. Dann
Today, it’s all the beer, fine wines and yummy food. Served to mucky spuds and other vegetables.
We got our #1 historian Gary Acheson to chart the rise and rise, and wobble, and then rise again of the town’s oldest pub…
Little Jack Dann
1858 – John Doyle builds a hotel at the harbour and announces its opening in the newspapers. Originally it was called the Greystones Hotel and later the Beach Hotel. Besides a grocery and bar, he also constructs a high-walled coal yard at the back for his coal import business.
Caroline Galligan
1883 – John Doyle dies and his widow, Susannah, sells the business to John George McEntagart, who ran several restaurants in Dublin as well as owning coal ships.
1900 – About this year, McEntagart sells the business to William H Dann, to focus on his restaurants in Dublin. William’s father, Alexander Dann, was originally from Limerick but had moved to Newtownmountkennedy to work as a butler. His sons went into the grocery business. Nathan Robinson Dann was in business in Delgany by at least 1899 (when his daughter Lucy was baptised in Christ Church.)
William Dann’s adverts describe the business – coal, grocer, wines and spirits and ‘Italian Warehouseman’ – what we would now call a delicatessen.
William Dann’s adverts describe the business – coal, grocer, wines and spirits and ‘Italian Warehouseman’ – what we would now call a delicatessen.1938 – William Dann dies but the business is carried on by other family members, including Jack Dann.
1954 – After about 50 years in the family, the Danns put the business up for auction. The new owners construct the side bar now known as Danns. Previously it had been called the Nineteenth after a small pitch and putt course was laid out beside it.
1954 – After about 50 years in the family, the Danns put the business up for auction. The new owners construct the side bar now known as Danns. Previously it had been called the Nineteenth after a small pitch and putt course was laid out beside it.
1963 – The Beach House is bought by the present owners, the Byrne family.
You can check out the two surviving bottles from Dann’s in-house beer right here, along with a message in a wall from one dreamy Dann’s customer right here. Oh, and read Gary Acheson’s fine local history posts right about here.
Willie Dann & Tommy Lawless at the Flagstaff. Source Derek Paine
Peter Hoey, James Byrne, Tommy Doyle and Artie Fox cutting corn at Dann’s 1938. Source Derek Paine
John Whiston, Christy Keegan, Jim D’Arcy & Baker Massey, Dann’s coalyard. Source Derek Paine
Outside Willie Dann’s general store – Corney ‘Naily’ Salmon, John ‘Lifter’ Whiston, Jim Darcy, Paddy Nolan, Michael ‘The Gull’ Fields, P. Delaney, Ceylon Doyle, Scully Darcy & Jim ‘Nickser’ Whiston
Jack Dann cruising with Bill Manweiller, John Brady, Peadar Byrne, Dermot Green & Sammy Ward
Postman Ben Doyle finishes up in Danns. Source Derek Paine
Ring throwing in Dann’s, with Phil Bell, Mick Green, Nickera Murphy, Ruban Doyle & Andy Wark
Ploughing behind Dann’s – John Dann in the overcoat. Source Derek Paine
North Beacher Michael Byrne works the thresher at Dann’s. Source Derek Paine
Thirsty horses at Dann’s. Source Derek Paine
Outside Dann’s, with Alan Evans on right. Colourised by GG.
Dann’s gets a little May snow…
Harbour including Dann’s Shop. Pic: Robert French
W. H. Dann’s High-Class Groceries bill
Jack Dann pulls the winning ticket, as Beezie Whiston & Seamus Smullen look on
The original Dann’s shop front
Thirsty horses at Dann’s. Source Derek Paine
Charlie Eglington at Dann’s
Dann’s coalyard growing spuds
Dick Copeland with Mr & Mrs Willie Dann
Jack Dann behind the bar. Colourised by GG.
Molly Dann, Harold Bennerhassett with Mr & Mrs Dann
The Beach House 1960, with Leslie Acheson’s fine Fiat out front