The Neon of Old New York
by Adrian Brune and Micah BereePage 2 of 6
THE DUBLIN HOUSE
In 1921, John Carway, a transplant from Dublin, opened the doors to the Dublin House, a nondescript speakeasy conveniently located on the ground floor of an Upper West Side townhouse, to give his fellow Irishmen a furtive place to congregate and drink after work — just as they did in the old country without the hassle of Prohibition. Nearly 12 years later, with the end of the “noble experiment” Carway commissioned E.G. Clarke, Inc., to create one of the brightest and most distinctive signs of the era — a two-sided green harp (the national symbol of Ireland) continuously flashing “Bar” and “Tap Room,” to welcome old patrons and entice new ones. His endeavor worked as well then as it does now, where on any given Saturday night, customers can hear lively banter in thick Irish brogue over the din of the jukebox. “You come out of the subway and you’re instantly hit with the sign,” said Shamus Barnicle, sipping a Guinness. “It gives you a warm feeling when you’re so far away from home.” Although current owner Mike Cormican won’t disclose how much he pays to keep the sign prominently lit, he acknowledges it gets expensive to replace blown tubes after a wild snow or thunderstorm. But, he adds, the sign is worth it. “You can’t get that sign today — they don’t make ‘em like that anymore,” he said. “I hope it stays up forever.”
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