Well-known Tipperary pub owner retires after almost 43 years of service

After more than four decades at the heart of the community, Bertie Callinan, owner of Bertie’s Bar in Dundrum, Tipperary has retired.

Monday June 23 was Bertie’s last day in his bar, with friends and family attending a farewell party at the pub that night.

All who attended were served by three generations of the Callinan family at the event.

The final night also brought together many past and present staff members including those who had worked in the bar as far back as the 60s. Most of whom took the opportunity to go behind the bar one last time and pull a pint for old times sake.

“I’ve owned the bar since September 1982, going on 43 years,” explained Bertie when asked how long he’s had the pub in Dundrum.

READ NEXT: Tipperary supporters asked to apply to be in audience of Up For The Match hurling special

Bertie, a native of Inagh, County Clare lived and worked in London for 15 years, then Dublin for a short while in 1982 before settling with his family in the village of Dundrum.

“I moved to London in 1966, the World Cup was on at the time. I then came back to do college in Dublin for a year. I lived in Northwest London when I got there.

“There used to be a ballroom where all the Irish used to meet there, they’d have a modern side and a céilí side, it was a massive place.

READ NEXT: Did you know? Here's the ticket breakdown ahead of Tipperary v Cork All-Ireland Final

“We bought the pub from John J O’Dwyer. It was being run by Peggy O'Dwyer at the time and was called 'The Oulde Kitchen.'

“My favourite thing about the pub was the company, and the people,” he said.

Bertie, who is 77 years old, said he was more or less ready for retiring and selling Bertie’s Bar, just before the Covid-19 lockdown began. The lockdown put his plans on hold until now, he said.

There’s only one pub in the village of Dundrum now, Bertie tells The Nationalist.

“Dundrum village also had the Golden Vale. This was run by the Crowe family for a long time. It had a very busy ballroom and everything, but that eventually changed hands and closed down in the early 2000s."

When asked to recall his most memorable moments from the past forty-three years, Bertie’s son Martin puts it best.

“All of the main events that happened in Dundrum were celebrated in the pub. We had many West hurling victories celebrated there. It was the place you go to celebrate.”

There were many darts teams that travelled around the county representing Bertie's throughout the years. The pub also held a regular game of cards that took place on Monday nights. 

Charity fundraisers, including shaveathons and a special one-off performance by the legendary guitarist and songwriter, Philip Donnelly.

On the night of his retirement, Knockavilla Kickhams GAA representatives made a very special presentation to Bertie to mark his continuous support of the club over the past number of years.

Bertie fondly recalls another memorable night for the village when a locally trained greyhound, 'Ringa Hustle', won the Greyhound Derby Final in Wimbledon in 1993. Many people flocked to the village to celebrate the win. These celebrations spilled out onto the street and went long into the early hours of the next day.

Bertie and Martin said that after reading all of the farewell cards that Bertie received, one of the things they noticed was how important the pub was to many locals.

A lot of locals wrote that they have so many fond memories of the happy times and important events they celebrated there.

“Whether it was birthdays or weddings, that was their place,” said Martin.

“There used to be lots of weddings in Dundrum House, if any of them were passing by they’d pull up for a drink,” said Bertie.

The village became famous due to the showjumping horse called 'Dundrum' which was ridden and owned by Tommy Wade.

Tommy Wade and Dundrum won various high profile competitions including Horse of the Year show and the Puissance competition at the RDS in Dublin.

There is also a mural of the legendary showjumping combination painted on the side of the pub.

“It was a big thing in the village. I remember the horse then actually died and someone met someone and said ‘I hear Dundrum is dead’.

“The person replied ‘It was pretty lively last night!’. The person meant the horse was dead, not the village. And the pub was fairly lively the night before” remarked Bertie.

The pub used to have groups play music every Saturday night for years, said Bertie. The pub was also known for its pool tables in its earlier years.

“It had three pool tables when we bought it. We changed that to just one so it would be nearer the bar.”

When asked what he’ll miss the most about the pub, Bertie says it will be the company of his regulars who have supported his business throughout the years.

“I’ll miss the company in the pub. We had to cut the hours in recent years, there used to be a betting shop across the road and that was a great attraction. But he retired and it was a bit of a loss to the pub,” explained Bertie.

When asked what plans Bertie has for himself now he is finally retired, he says he hopes to visit family abroad.

With one son living in Norway and another living in London, he will be kept busy planning visits.

Although Bertie has retired, the new owners of the premises are keeping it open as a bar under the same name. Bertie and the Callinan family wish the new owners every success in the new chapter of this fine establishment.