Ten years on for Dicey Reilly’s

Brendan Byrne is a legend among Lanzarote’s Irish community, and well beyond. His bar, Dicey Reilly’s at C/ Juan Carlos 1, is a favourite of thousands of holiday-makers and residents.

From the St. Patrick’s festival to getting behind Lanzarote’s most popular football club, Lanzarote’s got a lot to thank Brendan for, but this month he’s the one who wants to express his gratitude. Have a great anniversary, Brendan, and over to you…

My old friend David Timmons gave me the opportunity to come to this beautiful island of Lanzarote a little over eleven years ago, where I started working for Pat and Mai Blake at the Irish Harbour Bar in Puerto del Carmen and just over a year later I opened Dicey Reilly’s on December the 20th, 2014. Ten years on, here we are!

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all my loyal customers for all their support over the last ten years. I get great support from my fellow Wexford “Yellow Bellies”, Irish friends from throughout the 32 counties and further afield, and have made so many good friends.

Those friends include all the staff and many of the musicians who have passed through our doors over the years, some staying, others just visiting; and of course there’s all my Canarian friends here on the island. I’d like to thank every one of them.

I also know that I have to give something back to the island that’s made me so welcome. Eight years ago I was asked by one of my Canarian friends to help to organise the island’s famous St. Patrick’s festival and eight years on, I’m still at it – getting ready for 2025 with the usual massive help from Tías Ayuntamiento.

Then, four years ago I was honoured to be invited to become a director of UD Lanzarote, a real privilege for me. It’s important to give back something.

Thanks again, and see you all over the next ten years.

Brendan Byrne