Nanny O'Briens was established in 1993 by the Lyons family (Dungarvan, Co. Waterford) and the Gaffney family (Tralee, Co. Kerry). It is named after Gerry Lyons' mother, Nanny O'Brien. Nanny's location in DC was formerly named Gallagher's Irish Pub, which gave a fledgling musician her start in the entertainment world, namely Mary Chapin Carpenter.

One of the oldest Irish Pubs in Washington