Every capital has its political gathering spots—among them Wiltons, The Westminster Arms and Shepherd’s in London; and The Jefferson and The Hay-Adams in Washington; but for sheer reliability as a parliamentary power stop few places can outdo Buswells Hotel in Dublin, almost within shouting distance of Leinster House, home to Ireland's Dáil Éireannn (like the US House of Representatives) and Senate (called Seanad Éireannn). Geography has been destiny for the hotel, so much so that it’s frequently been dubbed a third chamber of the Irish government. “There’s really no other place like it where you can touch up against so many members of Parliament in such an informal way,” says Paul Gallagher, who has been general manager of the hotel for 21 years.
Buswells has been so much a go-to for Ireland’s TDs (Irish representatives) that a bell once stood in the dining room that would go off when a vote was imminent. “It was a loud, insistent bell that rang on for 10 minutes,” says Gallagher. The bell disappeared once Leinster House opened its own dining and bar facilities, but the TDs and senators still flock to the hotel. On Budget Day, which generally takes place in early October, Buswells becomes the unofficial center of the government with pow-wows being held in meeting rooms, television and radio reporters broadcasting from the property, the lobby overflowing with journalists and advocacy groups turning up in force.
“It’s a very colorful place,” says Gallagher, who cites not only the action inside the hotel, but outside it too, as a vital part of the Irish legislative process. If demonstrations at Leinster House occasionally spill onto Molesworth Street, where the hotel is located, it doesn’t seem to faze Buswells team—even if there’s a thicket of chanting protestors outside the door (police erect a corridor so guests can come and go without hindrance). “The area becomes a center for democracy,” Gallagher says generously, noting he’s even picked up some new customers who have gotten a glimpse of the hotel for the first time during the demonstrations.
What strikes you about Buswells is how it opts for cozy rather than posh, and the easy atmosphere of a relaxed country hotel. “We’re not glitzy,” says Gallagher, “Or the type of hotel that Elizabeth Taylor might have stayed at.” Which may be another reason that TDs and senators feel comfortable here—no one wants the label of “posh pol,” as one recent political dust-up in Ireland well proved. And while the celebrity set may not be Buswells base, major banking figures have turned up on the guest list, along with “presidents of smaller countries,” according to Gallagher, and yes, the TDs and senators, who come not only for lunch, drinks or meetings, but also for mid-week overnights when their constituencies and home bases are far from Dublin. In addition to the comfortable setting and unbeatable location, Buswells consistently wins kudos on TripAdvisor and other sites for the friendliness of its staff. “The culture of the staff is strong,” says Gallagher, who points out many employees are long serving.
While Buswells doesn’t like to label itself posh, Molesworth Street definitely ranks as a high-end address, although it may be one of Dublin’s best-kept secrets, despite its prime location, as far as visitors are concerned. Lined with auction houses like Sotheby’s, Whyte’s and Bonhams, it is near numerous major sites--in addition to Leinster house there’s the National Library, home to a fine collection of rare manuscripts and books and a popular destination for anyone looking to research their Irish genealogy. Also close by is the National Museum of Archaeology with Irish artifacts reaching from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. Trinity College and Grafton Street, Dublin’s shopping hub, are a short walk away.
The hotel, a member of Original Irish Hotels, has 67 rooms, which in rather democratic fashion are all standard size (two have sitting rooms); its busiest period is from St. Patrick’s Day to the end of October. One half of Buswells guests come from North America, and while less than 10 percent of visitors arrive from England, Brexit machinations are closely being watched (as they are by all Dublin hoteliers) to see how business will be impacted.
As properties around town are being revamped and turned into modern hotels, Gallagher says what makes Buswells unique is staying true to what it has always been. “If we were too highly polished, it wouldn’t work," he explains. Although the hotel does update and refurbish each year, it has to adhere strictly to regulations for what is permitted for a historical property. “There’s only so much restoration that can be done for preservation reasons and remain sympathetic to the building,” says Gallagher. But fans of Buswells accept that. “We’re a heritage hotel,” he says. “People expect the history, the authenticity.”
For more information: Buswells Hotel; Original Irish Hotels
