My last post featured Bartey Dunne's and not far from it stood Rice's which was another one of the few gay friendly bars at that time. There was a pub on this site from at least the 1850s. In the mid 20th century, it was known as the Grafton Bar (1940s), Eamon Nolan’s (late 1950s) and the Four Provinces (mid-1950s). It was taken over in 1960 by publican Robert ‘Bobby’ Rice. While Bartley Dunne's was a mixed pub, Rice's sectioned off the front bar for it's gay clientele, if a non gay couple came into the bar Bobby would usher them into the back section ! How times have changed ... Apparently it appealed to a different clientele than Bartley's but I may stand corrected, you might like to share your memories with us. Ireland's most famous gay couple at the time, Micheal Mac Liammoir and Hilton Edwards, who founded the Gate Theatre, were regulars and I assume brought their theatre buddies with them. It was sadly demolished in 1986 to make way for the St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, such a shame, bringing back memories of the Dandelion Market .... those were the days !
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