The Four Seasons

When musicians visited John in Capel Street they would often go for tunes in ‘The Four Seasons’ pub which was next door his shop.

Regular sessions commenced in ‘The Four Seasons’ in 1977 after O’Donoghue’s Bar in Merrion Row changed hands from Paddy & Maureen O’Donoghue and was bought by Dessie Hynes and John & Joe Ryan finished playing there.

Musician Barry Foy recalled in 2020: “I lived in Dublin for 10 months in 1976-77 and attended sessions there regularly. There were three per week: Thursday evening, Sunday afternoon, and Sunday evening, all chaired by John Sr., John Jr., and James, or some combination thereof.”

John and Joe Ryan played there twice weekly in the 1980s and there were also other sessions taking place during the week.

John Kelly Junior and his band ‘Kelp’ ran a regular Thursday night traditional gig upstairs in ‘The Four Seasons’ for a many years during the 1980’s.

Credit: Photo from Dublin City Council Photographic Collection. 149 The Four Seasons Inn, Bolton Street, 1965. © Dublin City Council. Link  @dubcilib

Details: “The Pilgrimage of Ti-Jean”. Director: Philip Donnellan. Date: 1978.

Credit:  BBC.