08 Oct Pleasure in Pubs , Dublin
The ancient Celts of Europe held great drinking-parties at which tribal bonds were secured and treaties were made. The principal drink on such occasions was called coirm , a kind of ale made from a mash of barley or wheat fermented in water.
The ancient Irish too drank this ale , while they listened to stories and music , and so popular were such parties in Ireland that the term coirm is now more often used to denote a music concert.
According to tradition , indeed , the best feast was one which divided the night into three parts – one part for drinking , one for music , and one for pleasant sleep! As well as ale , the medieval Irish chieftains had a special taste for native mead and for Spanish wine , and had a further ingredient for a pleasurable evening was , of course , good company.
The same spirit is to be found in the tavern of ‘public-house’ of more recent times. Apart from the more obvious drinkers seated near the ‘bar’ , some discreet clients retire to a cosy corner known as a ‘snug’ , where there is a welcome only for those of sensible disposition and good conversation.
The atmosphere in pubs is not always so restrained , however. Fine rollicking drinking-songs bear witness to exuberance and , although drunkenness is generally frowned upon , much humour attaches to the state of being ‘merry’.
The story is told of a man who took ‘a little drop too much’ and was repeatedly reprimanded by his parish priest on that account. One night , as the toper staggered home from the pub , he met his external conscience face to face. ‘Drunk again , Pat!’ , remarked the priest meaningfully. ‘So am I , Father!’ , answered Pat.
Dublin is full of traditional bars , some of which are real hidden gems , these bars make Dublin a must see on your Ireland tours.