About Finley Dunne's

Established in 1996, Finley Dunnes Tavern remains a constant in this ever changing neighborhood.

Who is Finley Dunne?

Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936) was a columnist for the Chicago Evening Post in the 1890’s. Many historians compare his style and influence to that of the late Mike Royko.

Finley Dunne created a fictional bartender named Mr. Dooley to be the vehicle for his political and social satire. Mr. Dooley’s rambling monologues, spoken in a thick Irish brogue, belied his sharp mind and penchant for seeing through the pretensions and hypocrisy of “educated” society. No subject was too big or too small to escape Mr. Dooley’s keen eye and sharp wit.

Our favorite Mr. Dooley quote?

"Alcohol is necessary for a man so that now and then he can have a good opinion of himself, undisturbed by the facts."

Even though he eventually left Chicago for New York, we chose to honor Finley Dunne for his strong belief in the virtues of the neighborhood tavern and life-long love of Chicago