How old is The Hideout?

The upcoming '80th Anniversary Festival Weekend' of The Hideout prompted some questions as to just how old the pub is.



Of course, the place isn't 80 years old as The Hideout, but this is the 80th trading year since the Byrne family in the person of James J Byrne Senior opened it as Byrne's Hotel (below) in Christmas week 1925.



The Hideout name was added in 1950 when James J Byrne Junior took over the business, and it has remained so following the retirement from the pub of the late Desmond Byrne.

As a matter of interest, the building itself was erected around 1855, and at some time after that became The Magnolia Hotel.

In 1903 it was renamed Flanagan's Motor Bar by the then owner, to mark the Kilcullen involvement in the Gordon Bennett Race.

The Festival weekend begins on Friday with 'Casino Royale, and patrons coming in James Bond dress will get extra chips of the gambling type.

There's a 'Wheel of Fortune' and 'Take Your Pick' on the Saturday night, with a top rpize of €2,000, and 'Super Blind Prize Bingo' on the Sunday.

There is live music every night.

Brian Byrne.