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Published 16:16 17 Sept 2024 BST
EAT: Tacos Lupillo
Honourable mentions: Kari, Riggers, Greenville Deli, Tonis Takeaway pizza and Rascals Brewing Company
DRINK: The Glen of Aherlow
Honourable mentions: Cleary's, McDowell’s, The Saint, The Black Lion and Slatt’s
DO: Gravity Climbing Centre
Honourable mentions: Hot Box Sauna, Rascals Brewing Company, Stillgarden Distillery
READ ON: Livin’ like a Local, Inchicore
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Inchicore has its roots in industry and occupation, with the village growing around Richmond Barracks, a base for the British Army, and a pivotal location in the story of Ireland’s independence. Alongside the Inchicore rail works, which employed nearly two thousand at its peak and is still active, nearly 180 years after its establishment. What exists today is an established community rich in history, working-class identity and pride, with everything from authentic taquerias beside local pubs, the coolest industrial estate in Dublin, life-size replicas of the Lourdes grotto and some of the friendliest people in Dublin. Walking around Inchicore, it’s obvious that the people who make up the community here love it. We talked to dozens of locals and they all had the same answer to the question of what makes Inchicore special – the people. The hospitality spots that operate in Inchicore are living proof of that and constantly put people at their 'core, by employing chatty, passionate people who love their craft which creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere for each and every customer. It's not a space that feels like it's a stone's throw from town, it has the feel of a village, where everyone knows your name and probably your Granda's name too. It's the type of place where people have lived for generations, and despite the housing crisis are fighting to stay there. There are plenty of independent hospitality businesses that have been operating for years, with some newer businesses cropping up, particularly over covid. It's a spot which has a space for every kind of business, from the family-run butchers, to the craft brewery, because the businesses are representative of Inchicore itself made up of different types of people, who are all open to trying new things without forgetting the classics. There are few places like The 'Core, and when it comes to cafes, restaurants, bars and activities there is a hell of a lot to choose from, so here's where we recommend:
Few places have such a confluence of people like Tacos Lupillo, a recently opened authentic taqueria, that welcomes all different types of Dubliners. A small spot where you can queue (when we were there there was a queue from the second it opened) for some of the best Mexican food in the city, and bring it next door into Cleary's a truly authentic Dublin pub that sits right next to it. There's some serious dedication to the craft here, with everything that can be made from scratch, made from scratch. Homemade sauces dot the shelves and the meat is arranged on the authentic trompo with the traditional pineapple set on top ready for tacos al pastor. The food is all made fresh, right in front of you from the team's small quarters, with all the smoky char you expect from Mexican meat, the fresh pungent flavours of lime, chilli and pickled onions that you expect from Mexican food. There's a side of charred potatoes, an ingredient surely supercharged for success in an Irish palate. Enjoying Tacos Lupillo in Cleary's pub is truly one of the most distinctly modern Dublin experiences, one that's not to be missed.
While the question of whether The Glen (as it's referred to) is in Inchicore or Kilmainham is up for debate, and realistically never going to be settled as both Inchicorites and Kilmainhamheads are claiming it for their own. It does sit nearly on the border with Kilmainham, a mere stone's throw from the main crossroads of Kilmainham. Bearing the name of a valley in Tipperary, The Glen seems to be quite removed from this particular brand of Dublin 8 squabbling. It’s set amongst residential houses, and when you step foot into the lounge you are stepping back into time. There's invariably an aul lad already at the Sports section of the paper, no matter how early you head in there. It’s changed hands for only the fourth time in 75 years and the changes to the place are minimal, just some nicely integrated outdoor furniture, the removal of the badly taxidermied fox and the integration of card payments, and thank god for that. Nowadays there's a great mix of customers from the regulars to the folks who have just moved in around, there's always room for everyone and with a pint in hand on a Saturday night it can feel as cosy as your own living room.
Located in what must be the coolest industrial estates in Dublin, Gravity Climbing Centre no doubt contributes to the mystique of Goldenbridge Industrial Estate. Around the corner from Rascals Brewing Company and the all-new Hot Box Saunas, when we headed into Gravity Climbing Centre at 3pm on a Thursday the place was a-buzz with activity, with three people working the desk trying to get the sheer amount of people processed. At first glance, all you can see is colour, but when you study the angular walls dotted with seemingly impossible primary coloured routes to the ceiling. The team are super dedicated and is constantly updating and revamping the walls and reworking the circuits. It's a pretty affordable new hobby to pick up with registration starting at €5 and climbing shoe hire coming in at €4 per rental, there is a range of free drop-in clinics for beginners and improvers. It's impossible to stand in the space and not feel the overwhelming urge to grip a multicoloured shape and pull yourself off the bouncy floor, this is one of the first places in Dublin to offer climbing and bouldering services and it remains one of the best, beating out an incredible trade at any time of the day.
Spending time and talking to residents, the warmth and enthusiasm that flowed naturally from people was special. This is a community that looks after itself and still offers so much. Like so many areas in Dublin, Inchicore has undergone change in recent years, but at its core, it remains the same, a welcoming, eclectic and diverse neighbourhood that has its own culture, it’s own history, poetry and stories, moving into the future without forgetting it’s past.
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