Tributes have been poured in for a legendary Dublin publican who sadly passed away earlier this week.
Liam O'Dwyer, who lived in Sandymount, was well known for setting up Cafe en Seine, Zanzibar and Break for the Border. He passed away at his home on Tuesday surrounded by his loving family following a short illness.
Mr O'Dwyer and his younger brother Des joined the pub business in the 1980s, expanding and refurbishing O'Dwyer's Bar on Mount Street and turning it into the popular after-office haunt, Howl at the Moon. The brothers would then purchase Bartley Dunne's bar on Stephen Street and revamped it into Break for The Border, before next setting up the lavish Kasbah-themed Zanzibar on Ormond Quay Lower and faux art nouveau-interiored Cafe en Seine on Dawson Street.
Read more: Argos customers 'promised free air fryer' in dodgy email scam
Mr O'Dwyer was also responsible for Dublin's most loved gay bars The George and the Dragon. A Reddit post paid tribute to Mr O'Dwyer, with many visitors to his pubs paying tribute to him.
In the post, he was described as an "icon" of Dublin's pub scene.
One person commented: "I am so sad to hear the news of Liam’s passing. I had the pleasure of knowing and working with him for many years. My thoughts and prayers and condolences are with Mary and all the O’Dwyer family. May he rest in peace."
A second added: "Liam was an icon in the drinks and hospitality business, opening up Cafe en Seine and other hostelries the likes of which Dublin had never seen before."
A third person added: "He was a rock star and gave his all to our industry. I have been involved in this business for 35 years and never once have I heard a bad word said about Liam. He a was kind, considerate, generous, decent and very funny man."
A fourth commented: "RIP Liam. Zanzibar, Cafe eine Seine, Break for the Border etc etc... made Dublin a vibrant and exciting place back then. Sadly we'll never see the like again."
Mr O'Dwyer's death notice on RIP reads read that he will be "very sadly missed" by his partner Mary (née Hennessy), daughters Lorraine, AnnMarie and Michelle, brother Des, sisters Mary and Siobhán, grandchildren, sons-in-law, nieces, nephews, his wider family and many dear friends.
His funeral service will take place on Friday, February 24 at 11.30am in St Mary’s, Star of the Sea Church, Sandymount, followed by a cremation service in the Victorian Chapel at Mount Jerome.
READ NEXT:
- 'We tried out a Dublin gastropub that reopened after major revamp and the food was incredible'
- Heartbreak as popular Dublin city centre restaurant announces closure
- Pinergy become first Irish energy provider to slash prices
- New €20million state-of-the art BusConnects plaza opens at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre
Temple Bar hotspots slammed for 'extortionate' prices as pints reach almost €10
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
