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Irish pubs for dummies (Or, how to behave in 'em)

Buy your round of drinks in Ireland, or suffer the consequences

CONN CORRIGAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, March 9, 2009, 1:33 PM

Updated Thursday, April 1, 2010, 1:30 PM

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These Irish people might seem happy now, but if one of them forgets to buy their round of drinks, there will be trouble

Photo by Tourism Ireland

Children

Especially in rural areas, where there are music sessions on, the pub is a place that all the family enjoy. So don't bother complaining to the barman if you see kids running around the place.

Closing Times

Ireland’s pub closing times are confusing. During the week, pubs serve until 11.30 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, it's 12.30 am. And on Sunday, it's 11.00 pm. In all cases, there is a half hour "drinking up time." At the weekends, because most of the pubs close at the same time, the towns and cities get very crowded at about 1.00 am - making it a challenge to get a taxi home.

Some pubs have a late license allowing them to serve until 2.30 am, the same time as nightclubs must stop serving.

In additon, pubs actually close completely on Good Friday and Christmas Day so be prepared for long lines at the liquor store on Holy Thursday and Christmas Eve. However, there are exceptions; if you're staying in a hotel or traveling on a train on Good Friday you can buy a drink.

Up until 2000, pubs had to close from 2-4 pm on Sundays – the so-called “Holy Hour.” The bizarre thing was that as long as you were already inside the bar before 2 pm you were could stay – the bar just couldn’t let anyone in during these hours.

Another peculiar law concerning drinking in Ireland, is that technically, it’s an offense to be drunk in public. Just thought you should know.

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Liamkeyes | May 04, 2011, 04:32 PM EDT

Some Large Pubs in Dublin will have a College kid(male or female) looking after the Tables, a tip is expected there. It serves to keep the lads (Or lassies)seated and prevents them from going up to the bar or wobbling up to the bar. There are many pubs in Dublin that are unionised and the Barmen are making union rate so no tip is needed or expected. Slainte!!! If it's a big time after a Wedding, Funeral, The large crowd is apt to split up. You can't expect a person to order 20 pints (maybe if he's a rich Yank)in a round) You might see a notice "Don't just stand around.... STAND A ROUND!!!!!

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sirpeter | May 04, 2011, 03:27 PM EDT

You do not have to participate in the round system if you don't want too. Especially if you are in a big round.You just say..I'll stay on my/our own cheers. This is quite exceptable.

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sallyorob | Mar 10, 2010, 07:25 PM EST

I have traveled quite a few times on my own in Ireland and love pubs and pub culture. I usually go with a few friends, and always buy a round or two, especially when my friends' teams are winning! I have read several articles recently that talked about how pub culture seems to be becoming more like American bar culture. I hope not!

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MikeRock | Mar 10, 2010, 10:26 AM EST

slainte

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Nelliegrace | Mar 10, 2010, 09:55 AM EST

Good information. I have been to Ireland twice and did not know this. Now I do.

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rosks304 | Mar 10, 2010, 09:34 AM EST

Last time I was in Cork Ireland,what was very noticeable and conspicuous by their abscence in the pubs were People,a few standing outside with their drinks trying to enjoy a smoke and a beer in the drizzling rain.In fact at around 5'a clock I needed a taxi to the airport,and I struggled to find one,eventually I did,when I enquired why suddenly the taxis were so scarce,he explained that there was a big football game on that evening and all were rushing home to watch it there,he went on to say that in the good old days,these guys would meet in the pub after work to watch but because of the smoking laws they now preferred to go home.smarock10@yahoo.com

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CaliforniaShamrock | Dec 11, 2009, 04:33 PM EST

I learned also that when in a pub in Cork do not root for Kerry! A clueless friend and I took refuge in a Cork pub on a cold rainy afternoon and got intrigued by a fast game of Irish football on the telly - we started rooting for one team and were politely told that it was a no-no! Us Americans what do we know.

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mccalmontj | Dec 11, 2009, 10:33 AM EST

I have been in pubs in hotels that have open all night rules for residents. All the shutters are down except one. IS this common and within the law of the land?

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carrickcourt | Dec 11, 2009, 10:33 AM EST

Rounds, that is one I never got when I was out with my Irish cousins at their local pub. Too late now I am sorry to say as the lads are no longer with us. Children in pubs. Once I went to pub with my late Irish cousins so that they could watch horse races in England and cross the street from the pub to place bets on the races with a local bookmaker. We got our drinks at this pub from a young lad who must have been all of 10 years old or so.

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cathleen | Dec 11, 2009, 09:58 AM EST

when i was in galway a few years back, a new friend informed me that a woman alone in a pub should never order a pint, just a glass. but if she was part of a couple, it was okay to order a pint. what's up with that?

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