Overview
John Kavanagh's - better known as The Gravediggers, or simply The Diggers - was built into the wall of Glasnevin Cemetery and established in 1833 as a gift from John Kavanagh's hotelier father-in-law.
In its early years, the pub served a funeral-adjacent trade: mourners left hearses outside to drink away their grief, and when they dispersed, the gravediggers themselves filled the seats. So many mourners arrived drunk to funerals - or didn't arrive at all - that the city cemetery committee eventually enacted a bylaw restricting burials to mornings only.
Today the pub is owned by the eighth generation of the Kavanagh family, and aside from the Kavanagh behind the bar, little else has changed.
What You'll See
The interior exudes old-world charm: dark wood panelling, dimly lit corners, low ceilings, a cosy fireplace, and original wooden flooring stained with centuries of use.
The lounge serves food Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 8:30pm and Saturday 2pm to 8:30pm, with no food on Sundays, Mondays, or Bank Holidays.
The kitchen is known for traditional Dublin dishes, particularly coddle - a slow-cooked stew of sausages, rashers, and potatoes that is as close to a signature Dublin dish as the city has.
Visitor Essentials
No bookings are available - the pub operates on a walk-in basis only (it doesn't even have a website). The pub is cash only last time I checked - no credit or debit card facilities are available, so come prepared.
Tips
The pub sits directly next door to Glasnevin Cemetery, and pairing a visit to both is the obvious approach for a morning or afternoon in the area. Glasnevin is the resting place of Daniel O'Connell, Michael Collins, Countess Markievicz, and Brendan Behan, among many other significant figures in Irish history.
The National Botanic Gardens are a five-minute walk away and free to enter, making a logical third stop on the same day out.
The pub's location on Prospect Square can be tricky to find - it is southeast of Glasnevin Cemetery, and asking your taxi or bus driver specifically for Prospect Square is the most reliable approach.
Find It: 1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, D09 CF72
