Royal Hibernian Hotel

The Royal Hibernian Hotel was a hotel on

The hotel was founded in 1751 as a pair of buildings making up a coaching inn on Dawson Street.^[3][4] Following the Acts of Union 1800, the premises became popular with wealthy British and Irish countrymen visiting Dublin. In the early 19th century, the buildings were a coaching business run by Kenny Bourne and Mr Hartley. They were sold to Charles Bianconi in the 1840s, and the hotel became the terminus in Dublin for Bianconi's mail coaches.^[3]

20th century

Paul Besson took over management of the hotel in 1905. He converted the building, adding a Winter Garden and Ballroom, and overhauling the restaurant to provide an improved standard of food. During the early 20th century, the restaurant became known for its haute cuisine.^[3][5]

During the Easter Rising of 1916 and the annexation of the GPO on O'Connell Street, the hotel was used as a centre for the telephone service during that week.^[6]

By the 1970s, haute cuisine was falling out of fashion.

When it closed in 1982, the Royal Hibernian was said to be the oldest known hotel in Ireland.[10] Ironically, the Celtic Tiger phenomenon in the 1990s brought the style of hotel like the Royal Hibernian back into fashion.^[3]

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