To the Irish conversaton is the greatest of all arts and distillation the finest of the siciences; they never tire of combining the two in a congenial pub. Most of the ‘spit and sawdust’ atmosphere has disappeared, but Irish women prefer to use lounge bar of pub, leaving the public bar as a male preserve. Imported beer, lager, wine and spirits are for sale, but the most popular drink is Guinness, a dar beer (stout) with a thick creamy head. Whiskey (whisky is Scotch), is another native brew and the whiskey liqueur, Irish Mist, is delicious. Irish coffee is served with whiskey and cream.
Poteen is a an illicit liquor sometimes sold in drinking houses called shebeens in remote rural areas – it will blow your head off. Alcohol is not sold to anyone under 18. Dublin and Cork pubs close for ‘holy hour’ between 2:30 – 3:30. Hotel bars are always popular, particularly on Sundays. Pubs in central Dublin often attract in crowds. Neary’s (Chatham Street) is a theater pub. Davy Byrnes (mentioned in Ulysses). The most popular form of entertainment in Dublin is probably the poetry and ballad sessions in pubs.
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