Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift visited Dublin pub ‘as strange as it is secreted’

It’s more than a 10-hour flight from Los Angeles to Dublin, so when Travis Kelce flew to California for teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s wedding, it meant possibly missing the final day of the Eras Tour in Ireland.

But Kelce made it in time Sunday and superstar singer Taylor Swift seemed genuinely excited and surprised to see his arrival at Aviva Stadium.

After the show, the celebrity couple went to the iconic Hacienda Bar in Dublin.

“Great to welcome Taylor Swift with all her musicians and dancers to the Hacienda last night,’ the establishment wrote on its Facebook page. “Special to also welcome Superbowl champion Travis Kelce, the legendary Stevie Nicks and Paramore. It was such a warm and genuinely friendly night, we did not request our ‘usual’ Hacienda photo so as to allow Taylor and friends the chance to properly relax and enjoy their well-deserved time off.”

Not posting a photo of Kelce and Swift is another example of just how famous the couple is. The Hacienda Facebook page usually shares photos of its celebrity visitors.

Singer Olivia Rodrigo is a huge star in her own right, but she posed with the proprietor Shay. Ditto for Ed Sheeran and Beck.

‘A hidden gem’

The Irish Star wrote of the Hacienda: “The unique bar is a true hidden gem in Dublin and one you would easily miss if you didn’t know what you were looking for.

“The bar is rather small and dimly lit and is known for its exclusive ‘in-the-know’ feel when it comes to Dublin pubs.”

The blog “Dublin Publopedia” paid a visit to Hacienda and described what makes the pub so special.

“This is a unique bar, as strange as it is secreted,” Sam Coll and Andy Stephens wrote. ”It has long been a favourite for private parties and the afters of book and magazine launches. ... The exterior resembles a traditional Spanish white-stone cottage in the heart of the old Smithfield fruit and vegetable market. It appears to be continually closed, (and it typically is), save for when ‘living legend’ and eccentric proprietor ‘Shay’ unlocks whenever he wishes, (never before eight). All windows and doors at ground level are invariably shut and guarded by cast iron Spanish gates.

“The wandering imbiber should notice a small luminous Budweiser sign above the door, he must then press a buzzer marked ‘Bar’ and wait to see if Shay will open. After passing it by many times and waiting until the time was right, we tried our luck on a Sunday late in October with a fountain of pints already over us from the previous several hours in Stoneybatter. Our trepidation turned to delight when the narrow door opened to reveal Shay, (not dissimilar from Dr. Emmett Brown of ‘Back to the Future’ fame), peering at us out of a crimson haze. After exchanging a few brief informalities he granted us entry and bade us aboard.”