September 2025
I remember back in the days of the 20th century (circa 1989), I used to hang out at O’Ryan’s Irish Pub whenever Indiana University had a basketball game scheduled. The owner, Dennis Ryan, had one of those huge satellite dishes, and he would scan the stars looking for my game. I’ve had a soft place in my heart for O’Ryan’s ever since.
Today, owner Dom Nieto and general manager Dexter Reid III have brought O’Ryan’s Irish Pub (137 E. Main Street) affectionately known as the IPUB, into the 21st century. Both bartended at O’Ryan’s for about four years and they took over in July 2024.
“O’Ryan’s has been a downtown community staple for over 50 years, and this is only the 6th generation of ownership in that long history,” Dom said. “It has a great history and tradition that we wish to preserve and respect. We have worked hard to earn and maintain a reputation for a safe, inviting, and lively late night atmosphere. And for about the last year, we have been expanding with events that welcome the whole community. While we still have DJ Events on select Saturdays, O’Ryan’s is definitely not just the college bar.”
The new additions include:
- Live jazz every Wednesday at 7pm with the Adam Harris Quartet, featuring some of the best jazz musicians in the valley. Adam Harris also grew up in Ashland and is the current band teacher at Ashland High School.
- Live traditional Celtic music every Sunday at 2pm with local musicians who used to play weekly at The Black Sheep
- Live local bands on select Friday nights
- Karaoke every Monday and Thursday, with special Themed Karaoke on Mondays like “Musical Theatre” and other themes. Please see their Instagram to vote on the Monday karaoke themes.
“This is a safe and inviting late night atmosphere with recurring live music events throughout every week for the whole community and just a great time overall,” Dexter said, who is still an entertaining fixture behind the bar. “On Celtic Music Sundays, you can always find a great selection of whiskies and Guinness properly poured on nitro. We tend to be the bar and restaurant industry go-to late night spot. And with our very low turnover rate for staff, we have been fortunate to have long tenures of people who work here, creating a valued sense of community.”
Dom moved from San Diego to Ashland in 2021 and thoroughly appreciates and enjoys the Southern Oregon environment and community. Dexter moved from Stony Brook, New York, to Ashland as a child, with his mother Laurie Reid. His father also worked in the Ashland restaurant industry for many years. Dexter went to grade school in Ashland and graduated from Ashland High School. He has worked in the Ashland restaurant and bar industry for over ten years, starting in his teens.
For more info, the phone number is 541-482-8572. You can also see them at ipubashland.com and on Facebook and Instagram.
