Growing up in a family pub in Ireland meant he was collecting glasses as a young kid and pouring pints of stouts as soon as he was tall enough to reach the taps. As someone who loves the atmosphere of a good Irish pub and all the characters you meet while there, it makes perfect sense that Neal Tansey is the General Manager of Danny Doolans.
Before touching down on NZ shores, Tansey had heard of the legendary Danny Doolans. He arrived in the country in 2012 after working in bars around Australia. No time was wasted getting to Auckland’s viaduct; he got a job there as soon as possible and has been hanging around ever since.
“I was impressed by how this lovely cosy Irish pub could turn into a bustling live music venue that was teeming with partygoers every night of the week.”
There are plenty of aspects of the job that Tansey finds rewarding. Meeting people for the first time and hearing their stories - because so many different ones get shared across the bar. He will share a tale himself on occasion too. Tansey enjoys helping people enjoy themselves, forgetting about whatever else is going on in their lives for a few hours. It is about having a good time, from singing to dancing and knocking back shots with strangers.
“I get blamed for a lot of hangovers, but I can live with that.”
Whiskey is Tansey’s go-to for a customer looking for recommendations early in the evening. He considers a great drink to be one that takes you to a particular place or moment every time you grab a glass. He always introduces people to new and exciting Whiskey varieties and hopes some of them remember their first drink with him. The Green Spot Pot Still Irish Whiskey is a traditional one with great history. But when the night gets late and loud, “We’re all about the Jagermeister!”
Flavour trends come and go through Danny’s. Gin is popular, and rum is making a comeback. But it always comes back to Whiskey; with over 250 to choose from, there is one for everyone. Tansey doesn’t make many cocktails, but a good pint of stout and a nice whiskey (of course) is always a classic combo.
When not working at the bar, Tansey once loved a weekend of mountaineering or white water rafting. But these days, getting his one-year-old to bed is the extreme sport of choice.
Tansey noted that the worst times are behind hospitality, so drink more water and get some sleep because Danny’s had a makeover during lockdown last year, and he urges people to come to visit. Enjoying a pint or a glass of wine outside in the new viaduct courtyard on a summer’s day or filling up on Danny’s famous Sunday roast by the fire if it’s raining is the way to go.
