


At DiscoverTempleBar.ie, we love catching up with the faces behind the heartbeat of the city. We recently had the pleasure of speaking with two Temple Bar icons: Willie Ahern of The Palace Bar and Nathy Towey from Darkey Kelly’s. They talked about Changing Times Brewery, a unique collaboration involving 11 publican families who run 15 pubs — all coming together to create their own beer, brewed just outside the city center.
The Spark That Started It All
So, where did the idea for Changing Times Brewery come from?
“We’re probably looking at, um, well over two and a half years ago now at this stage, um, where all good ideas started over a pint. A couple of us would have come together — myself, Shane Long, Brewer from ex-Franciscan Well from Cork, Dave Chawke, and myself. We would’ve sat down over a pint and, uh, would’ve started the discussion about, um, being master of our own destiny. Kind of being in charge of our counter, in control of our counter. We looked into it and we followed up and did a bit of research — a trip down to Cork one day. And, we said, why not?”
At the same time, similar conversations were happening across town.
“We felt there was a need out there. People wanted something different. They were kind of getting a little bit tired of the same old… what was coming from the other breweries. People wanted something local, something new that’s probably like where the spark came.” — Nathy Towey.
From Pint Talk to Pouring Beers
The project didn’t happen overnight. It grew organically over time, driven by genuine conversations between publicans.
“It was strange. We were all kind of hearing the same things across the counter… just at various times when we’d meet up, we were kind of all saying the same thing. So I suppose the conversations started off very casually and then as the weeks and months went by, they got a little bit more serious. We pushed the button on it, and it started.”
Brewing Democracy: Beers Born from the Bar
So what’s brewing?
“At the moment, we have a stout, a lager, and a pale ale, and that was just an initial reaction to what people are asking for — what we see across the counter. So here we feel with the summer, the lager and the pale are going very well. The stout people definitely wanted something different, a little bit creamier… and they’re asking for it by name — they’re asking for a Clockwork Stout, which is very reassuring.”
Why Try It?
For visitors stopping into The Palace Bar, Changing Times Brewery offers more than just a pint.
“That’s a great story. It’s a great dynamic. We brew our own beer. We’ve a little brewery three miles out the road. It’s got personality. Um, it’s a story too. There’s a lot of family pubs involved in it that got this off the ground. It’s not going to shareholders in London or Amsterdam… It’s a good story. It’s good for the houses. It’s, uh, you know, support local.” — Willie Ahern.
Darkey Kelly’s: The Beat of Dublin’s Traditional Scene
For Nathy Towey, Darkey Kelly’s has long been about music and community:
“Darkey Kelly’s is a pub, kind of went down the route of traditional Irish music and promoting traditional Irish music here in Dublin. So we have music seven nights a week. It’s a big, big part of what we do here… At the heart of it, it’s the same groups that play here seven days a week. We’re mad about music here and we love it, and we love being a part of the Dublin traditional Irish music scene.”
Dublin: A Village City
Dublin’s changing — but it still holds its charm, according to Willie:
“Dublin is a small enough city in a way you can get around. My grandfather always used to say Dublin’s like a village. You know what’s going on around the place. It’s gotten a lot more busy over the years, but it still retains that kind of personal touch. That personal charm.”
Where It’s All Going
The community-first spirit of Changing Times Brewery is gaining traction — people are asking for their beers by name.
“Right now, people are asking for it by name, so we see that as a step in the right direction… It’s beginning to get into people’s heads now — they’re asking for it by name.” — Nathy Towey.



The message is clear: This is more than a pint — it’s a movement to take back control, pour something meaningful, and support local.
Curious to dive deeper? Discover 10 unforgettable reasons to explore Temple Bar, Dublin’s most vibrant and culturally rich district, by following along with us.