How did the pint become such a phenomenon? Discover the historic institutions, literary legends, and contemporary customs that make up Ireland’s lasting love of the humble pint.
How did the pint become such a phenomenon? Discover the historic institutions, literary legends, and contemporary customs that make up Ireland’s lasting love of the humble pint.
From Behan to Beckett, some of Ireland’s most famous (and infamous) literati remain closely associated with their preferred watering holes. And with bustling bars and secluded snugs, the pub has always been a microcosm of Irish life and a breeding ground for inspiration and creativity.
But how did Ireland’s pub culture begin, and how has it evolved through the ages? These days, there’s a pint for every occasion – quiet pints, celebratory pints, even festival pints. So pull up a chair (and grab a pint!) and listen up as experts in craic Ali Dunworth, Donal Fallon, and Aoife Carrigy discuss the fascinating relationship between Ireland, its writers, and the humble pint.
Ali Dunworth is a writer & journalist who regularly contributes to the Irish Times, Food & Wine Magazine and many others. At the heart of everything Ali does is great local food and drink and a hunger for the stories that go with them. Her book A Compendium of Irish Pints delves into the culture, customs and craic surrounding pints in Ireland.
Donal Fallon is a historian of Dublin, with a particular interest in the social history of the city. A founder of the popular Come Here To Me! blog in 2009, since 2019 he has presented the Three Castles Burning podcast, exploring the many histories of the Irish capital. Formerly Historian-in-Residence to Dublin City Council, his publications include 14 Henrietta Street and Three Castles Burning (which outsold Bono’s memoir!).
Aoife Carrigy is a freelance journalist and editor specialising in food, drink and travel with a strong interest in culture and the arts. She is currently conducting postgraduate research at the National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies, focussing on ‘Cultural Representations of the Irish Pub’ to explore the place of the pub in Irish culture at home and abroad.