The artworks, originally part of an annual Christmas art show in the pub, have since been gathering dust in storage. The paintings are now being catalogued and prepared for auction.
The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the hospice at Harold’s Cross, in honour of Tommy Smith, co-owner of the pub who passed away at the hospice aged 78 in 2020.
Mr Smith, along with his business partner Paddy Kennedy, was the joint patron of Grogan’s Castle Lounge on South William Street.
The pub has built up a reputation over the years as a hangout for artists, poets and writers, as well as a unique gallery.
The idea for the auction began as a passion project by artist Orla Mellon, who was involved with the annual art show in Grogan’s. She organised the paintings and collaborated with a photographer to document them.
The auction aims to reunite the artworks with their creators or their loved ones, with some pieces already claimed and others expected to raise funds for a good cause.
Daniel Smith, senior barman and grandson of Tommy, said the auction will take place on September 15.
“We have been doing an art show every Christmas for the last 33 years. Over the years, the amount of art that was bought and never taken off the walls was left upstairs, gathering dust,” he said.
“My grandfather started exhibiting the paintings to provide space for artists to sell their work without paying a commission to a gallery or auctioneer.”
Speaking about the significance of the art in the pub, he added that with no TV or music, the walls would be “very bare without them”.
Mr Smith added that the art has always enhanced the atmosphere in the pub and created a real “sense of community”, with most of the artists behind the works being regulars in the pub.
Dublin historian and Three Castles Burning podcaster Donal Fallon added: “Tommy Smith was a great champion of the arts in all their forms, and this included supporting poetry, theatre, and the visual arts.
“Uniquely, he insisted there was no commission on any artworks sold in the pub. This made it a two-way exchange – the artist benefited financially, but the pub benefited from the unique atmosphere.
“Over the years, I’ve walked in and seen some really excellent works – Brian MacMahon, Tom Matthews, and Margaret Nolan come to mind instantly.
“The idea of art in a pub on a rotating basis was quite novel, but there are artworks in the pub in other forms that might be missed. Works of sculpture, even the beautiful stained glass windows by Katherine Lamb.
“It’s interesting to see how the subject matter of the work shifted too. There are many tributes to the Grogan’s and old McDaid’s in the older works, like the poet Michael Hartnett or the actor Donal McCann.
“Later on, you see a lot of recent Dublin iconography, like the Poolbeg chimneys or Grogan’s itself. I don’t think there’s been a moment in the last five years the Poolbeg stacks weren’t on the wall in some form.”
For those interested in viewing the art or claiming pieces that might belong to them, visit www.grogansfineart.ie
