The Gathering, Irish of the world called home

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The Gathering, Tourism Ireland’s initiative to call the Irish from around the world to visit home. The push will becoming all this year to have 2013 be the biggest travel year for Ireland ever. Not that I ever needed a special reason to visit Ireland but Ireland tourism is extending a welcoming hand to it’s emigrant sons and daughters and devising events aimed at them. Different regions will be highlighted along with weeks aimed at family names and clans, this is sure to be a summer long festival full of Irish music, Irish food, and irish fun. This summer the Irish travel sites, discover Ireland, Tenon tours, Cie, Sceptor tours, will be busy informing we Irish descendants. I think it will be a fun and exciting time to explore your Irish roots, just make sure you are prepared.

Yes be prepared, no I’m not calling out to Irish American boy scouts here, I’m saying that the influx of tourist from all over the world will strain the infrastructure of Ireland and the patience of the Irish locals. Might be a good time to go over the rules of a tourist of Irish descent.

  • Be patient, The number one mistake we American’s make is we are to excited to properly engage the local Irish culture. Most Irish are very nice and pleasant but they are not there to put on a show for your benefit. As soon as you ask a question or order a pint, your accent will tell all that you are a tourist. The last thing any one in a tourist town likes to deal with is a pushy, insistent, tourist. So be polite , and you will be pleasantly be surprised at the chats that come your way.
  • There will be tourist “traps” and less traveled spots. When the country is geared up for the increasing tourists from all over the world, they will be setting up events for these tourists, so if you are looking for a “real” Ireland experience you will want to plan accordingly.
  • That being said this will be a once in a lifetime family reunion feel, if you are planning to go to the gathering chances are you can be part of a gathering of all the Kelleys, O’Connors, or  Barrys of the world. Now that would be some mighty Craic.
  • When you are in Ireland you are an American of Irish descent, some Irish can get touchy over people born outside of Ireland calling themselves Irish. The ones that are will probably be super annoyed during this gathering that calls all Irish home, I’ve found that when you describe yourself as American with an Irish heritage, the Irish guy will try to convince you that you are truly Irish. Example, In Galway last year my daughter and I are talking to some local musicians at the bar,  we talk for a bit and he asks me “So what’s your name” I tell him Brian, “No, no, what’s your surname” I tell him O’Shea, ” O’Shea! sure your an Irishman”. It’s funny that the softer you push the nicer you are treated.
  • If you run into a tourist hater, be prepared and avoid, ignore the political debates and enjoy the Irish culture. I found simple phrases like , well you have a lovely town, is a nice dis-arming phrase, and go on about your business.
  • Seek out small chauffeured tours, they have local knowledge and will show you sites you are interested in. The big tour bus tours are  OK, but you will be shown what they think you want to see.
So if you want to be part of a world wide Irish family Reunion checkout The Gathering with one of the Irish specific tourist agencies and go for it. Before you enter a pub checkout Pub etiquette and Pub tutorial on this site.
I’d be interested on your thoughts, please leave a comment.
Cheers.

Ronan Tynan, Pauline Wells, Caroline O’Shea, DEVRI, The Ivy Leaf, perform live.

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Town of Milton 350th Birthday Concert with Ronan Tynan and Pauline Wells

Ronan Tynan performs at the Marriott hotel in Quincy Ma. for the 350 anniversary of the town of Milton, Ma. Performing along side Ronan is Milton resident and cambridge police sergeant Pauline Wells, The DEVRI Band, Flutist and whistle player Caroline O’Shea. A great time was had by all, Pauline Wells was outstanding singing with true feeling both Irish and contemporary standards. Ronan Tynan’s powerful voice filled the hall with beautiful Ballads and Ronan’s effervescent personality took over the hall and had all in attendance laughing till they cried.

Above a little background on th event and a stirring rendition of Ronan Tynan singing “The Town I Loved So Well”.

I’ve seen Pauline sing several times she is lovely and powerful at the same time. To her credit she is constantly singing for charity, raising money for the Jimmy fund and various Cancer organizations. Above Pauline is performing at the Wilbur theater for a tribute to our veterans.

The Ivy leaf played at the cocktail reception prior to Ronan Tynan, Pauline Wells, and DEVRI. Flutist/whistle player Caroline O’Shea both performed with the Ivy leaf and DEVRI.

It’s always a treat to listen to such talented singers and performers.  Ronan Tynan’s  Cd’d can be found through  http://www.ronantynan.net/

Pauline Wells Cd can be found  /www.paulinewells.com/media.php

he Ivy Leaf Cd can be found  www.ivyleafmusic.com/Shows

 

the world is full of music and opportunities to listen and be transformed need to be taken advantage of. The next time you hear a new ensemble is playing or perhaps an older group makes a comeback, go and enjoy yourself, and if it happens to be an Irish group so much the better.

Town of Milton 350th Birthday Concert with Ronan Tynan and Pauline Wells

I wonder when these artist make their way across the Atlantic and do some shows in Ireland. You know Ronan would be a great draw in Ireland and This combination would be a great fit in the gaiety theater, just a little hopeful thinking.

Cheers.

 

 



Irish music travel destinations.

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Irish music travel destinations abound in the high travel times Ireland. The good part about traveling during May, June, July, and August, is the weather is a bit less moist, in fact it can be done right glorious, and from an Irish music perspective the pubs in the tourist spots will be alive with music. As many who have read this site before will note I caution you on expecting Irish music to be widely available, locals may or may not care for the deedle dee deed lee do music as it is sometimes referred to but pub owners know it brings in tourists. There are definitely towns to consider for Irish music vacations.

Please remember your Pub Etiquette and if your an Irish musician your Session Rules.

The Dingle peninsula on the Kerry coast is full of Irish music and beautiful sites of Ireland. The Slea head stabbing out into the Atlantic ocean is a breathtaking picturesque view of the Kerry coastline. The town of Dingle is a bustling harbor town with plenty of pubs restaurants, an aquarium, surf shop, harbor cruises, craft shops. if you go there during the Rose of Tralee contest don’t make the same mistake my cousin and his mates made. My cousin was just married and he towed all of his relatives and friends around the west of Ireland. There’s a hardware store/bar in Dingle that my cousin, his best man,and groomsmen, stopped into for a pint, the place had mostly local men watching a sports match and they got to talking. When the pints arrived my cousin not thinking asked if the rose of Tralee was on, The local fellas spent the next 15 minutes tongue in cheek expressing their love for the rose of Tralee over the football game. My cousin laughing about himself and his dumb comment tried to retreat but the damaged was done, he was the Yank that wanted to see the rose over the game, good fun though.

Dingle pubs:  www.johnbennyspub.com , www.thedinglepub.com ,www.murphyspub.ie

Dingle ireland Pubs

Pubs of Dingle

Doolin County Clare, the unofficial home of traditional Irish music. The Aran islands as a backdrop Doolin is home to some of the best sessions you are apt to come across in Ireland. Doolin on reputation alone will attract some of the best traditional Irish instrumentalist imaginable. Check out McDermott’s or McCanns. Besides the lively Irish music Doolin is a great base to strike out from, close to the cliffs of Moher, The Burren, an hour or so to Galway City.

Doolin pubs;

One of the best ways to find good Irish music is to take a walk and listen, there are many styles and variations that may or may not be of your liking, so check out the local pubs and when you hear your type, well, order a round.

Dublin city is full  of music, not always Irish, it’s a cosmopolitan enclave and you are just as often going to here Dave Mattews as Irish tunes. Not to fret, There are plenty of Pubs that cater to the Irish players and they advertise it quite widely. The birthplace of the Dubliners, O’Donohue’s pub by St. Stevens Green, has never disappointed me in that respect, good Irish session music almost any time. The only tough thing about O’Donoghue’s is it’s popularity, it can be jammed packed during the summer. Temple bar is the touristy section of Dublin which can be good and bad, tends to be crowded, and well full of tourist, so check out a few places  and find what you like. My friend Kearnsy just back from Dublin recommends Farringtons on the outskirts of Temple bar.

There are plenty of other spots that are lovely and sure to have good Irish Music, Kinsale, Cork City, Ennis, Galway City, The tricky part is finding Irish music in the less traveled parts. Never expect or demand music as that is a turn off. there will be times that you happen upon a session my advice is to sit back enjoy your pint and listen. If it’s a sing song join in on the chorus but don’t intrude yourself into the fray, you may get invited in, then the fun begins. The best times can be had just sitting back and enjoying the Irish music. This begs the question- What to do if there is no Irish music, sit back and enjoy the atmosphere of the old Irish pub you are in, you never know what experience you will find.

Cheers.

Irish tea

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Fresh back from the Irish trade show in the beautiful,  concrete and neon enclave that is Meadow Creek Plaza Secaucus, New jersey. It really was nice to see familiar faces and have a good laugh with fine people. Besides all the fine Irish product being shown to prospective buyers the amount of tea consumed at this show was monumental. I sometimes forget how mad the Irish are about tea.

Irish crafter Ogowna studios Dublin,

Irish fairie folk battling over Irish tea

The Irish on average drink four cups of tea a day, that average takes into account the few Irish that don’t drink tea, because the Irish I know drink four to six cups a day. In fact Ireland is the top per capita consumer of tea in the world. I was asked to give some travel tips for a genealogy blog and most had to do with pubs, etiquette, and avoiding politics. A fellow commented that he was a recovering alcoholic and were there places to interact that were not alcohol related. Well there’s the Irish tea house, or bake shop, or cafe, breakfast tea, morning tea, afternoon tea, high tea, and maybe a cup a tea to take the chill off before heading in for the night. When you are on vacation and you need some information these places of social gathering are also good sources, just be polite and avoid being intrusive or pushy.

Barrys Irish Tea

If you are in a pub you can still order a cup of tea. The pub is a social gathering place it is common to have a cup of tea and a toasted sandwich. The best thing about tea in Ireland is the type of tea you have and the proper way it is served. Now by proper I don’t mean you have to be prim and proper, I mean the tea is brewed right.

A proper cup of tea is normally served in a small pot and poured into your ceramic cups, no styrofoam dunkin donuts wannabes here, please. The tea will probably be Barry’s tea or Lyons tea , in either case they are strong Irish tea, served piping hot mixed with milk and sugar. The Irish way is strong tea with milk, yes milk, yes it’s delicious. The other nice thing about having an Irish tea break is that it usually comes with some biscuits (ie. Irish cookies) or pastry (ah! raisin scones).  I think that the reason the Irish have such a quick stride in their walk is to burn off the calories from the morning tea and hob nob cookie break.

Back in the day, in my old shop I sold boxes of Barry’s Gold Irish tea, in the red box,. My next door neighbor had never had Barry’s tea before and bought a box to throw a couple of dollars my way. She came back a week or two later with a complaint. Brian, she said, I used to have a cup of Lipton tea from the sandwich shop next to where I work every day for lunch, but know that I’ve had this Irish tea, my Lipton tastes like hot water, you’ve ruined my lunch break. Ah well.

So the next time you go to Ireland,  or you get invited over to an Irish friends house, have a cup of good Irish tea. But be aware your old tea might taste like hot water,

Cheers.

Irish newspapers can deaden your Irish pride.

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Irish newspapers that love to email we Americans of Irish descent can be a little infuriating. I found myself getting more and more negative, and the writings were showing it. The Irish newspapers love to start discussions on their websites, and the best way to do this is to ask a divisive political question, WHY DON’T I FOLLOW MY OWN RULES. When dealing with the Irish avoid politics, luckily there were enough positive comments to help me re affirm my appreciation for the Irish people. I was close though to believing that all Irish are anti-American communists, when the epiphany came to me in a comment on the Irish newspaper blog. “Don’t let these nasty comments get you down, the origins are from Anti Irish Republic zealots trying to drive a wedge between Ireland and the U.S.”. It’s funny when you take a step back, start looking for the goodness in things, you will find the goodness in things.

I have traveled to Ireland for the last thirty years. I’ve met all kinds of people. I have never had a bad time in Ireland if nothing else the country is beautiful. The people even in these modern times have always treated me well, there are exceptions, but as a whole the Irish are hard working, pleasant, and understanding.

Ireland is a vacation destination, before you go review some ground rules.

  • Proper pub etiquette.
  • Avoid politics.
  • speak positively about the town you’re in.
  • listen, wait, be invited into conversation.
  • accept hospitality.
  • Irish music has different types, trad, folk, session.
  • Irish sessions have rules.
  • Irish music not always available.
  • Drunk driving rules are strict, take cabs back from the pub.
  • Be a good tourist, don’t complain about things that are foreign to you. Live and learn.
  • Have a sense of humor.
  • You’ll meet French, German, Spanish, and many other nationalities in ireland on vacation like you.
As I started looking on the brighter side of the street, it remind me of the time my wife and I were in Dingle. We were staying in a nice B&B out on Slea Head a short trip out from Dingle town. The B&B overlooked the Atlantic Ocean with the Blasket Islands in the background, it was a picture book setting even though the B&B was painted pink. We head down to the pubs in Dingle town, there was nice music coming from Murphy’s pub and we headed in, order a pint, found a seat and talked about the day. When at the bar we bumped into a couple who were on holiday to Dingle from Dublin, we had a nice chat and ended up accepting their invitation to their group. The Irish music was festive and the conversation with Our Dublin friends was jovial, we all had a great laugh and enjoyed Dingle town.
The next day the Dublin couple drop by our pink B&B  to have a chat and laugh a little bit about the night before, I think they really wanted to get a look at the B&B. It turned out the B&B was owned by an American ex-pat who painted the place pink and had the lobby lined four deep with teddy bears. The dubliners wife just loved the American B&B, she thought the local farmers were probably going crazy with the color she painted the place.
Ah well you can’t please everyone.
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Feeling more optimistic already, probably time for some good Irish Music.
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Heading down to an Irish trade show this weekend, it’ll be nice to see some of the boys from across the Atlantic,
Cheers.
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send me a cheery story about you Irish stay.

Simple truths

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There are simple truths in life, some are big like the meaning of life, the truth of God, Guinness poured in the proper glass, but todays short post deals with another simple truth-men like to compete.

In the winter of 1979 a group of young lads started a hockey hour and for the last 33 years 2 of the original 20 have kept the cause going. Last night was the ending night of said 33rd year. My wife would say it’s an excuse to get out of the house and she would be right, my kids would say it was nice to get me out of the house and they would be right, I would say that giving your all on the playing surface of your choice just makes you feel alive, and of course I’m right.

So I won’t put you through the ins and outs of one great ice hockey game although that would be awesome, the reason it was awesome, was of course my side won. This is kind of a universal rule -men like to win. After said game takes place there is an end of the year get together which goes to universal rule two -men like to hang out. So after the bar closes,  The boys yuck it up in the parking lot, and eventually  head home,you know the best part of your week is over. Most of me misses it already and part of me is glad all my parts still work, I mean golf season is just starting off.

So for those of you without a life the three game series ends this way

11-10 game one a defensive battle

5-7 not as close a game as it seemed

7-5 for the title in a pretty well played back and forth battle.

 

I have a friend that has set up ice rinks in Dublin, I was amazed he could pull it off but Philip is an amazing guy, The goal for next year is to take the boys over to Dublin and have an ice hockey, Guinness, Dublin extravaganza, that would give me a years worth of material provided we came back to the states.

Cheers

Irish experiences, of an American in Ireland

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The Irish experiences as an American who has traveled numerous times to Ireland are as varied and different as the Irish people, whom you chanced to meet on the way. As a frequent guest of the emerald isle, I neither have the naive blissful ignorance first time vacationers to Ireland have, nor the full blown acceptance of an Irish local. Instead I tread the border of both, depending on the company and the situation.

Irish experience

Ireland

The nice part of making several trips to Ireland is that I have learned a lot of the ground rules that insure a person can enjoy their trip.

  1. The little things like which way to look when crossing the street.
  2. Knowing not to rent a car in Dublin.
  3. The proper way to cue for a cab.
  4.  Offering a lady a lift not a ride.
  5. The differences of pubs and clubs and wine bars.
  6.  The huge influx of Eastern European and middle eastern immigrants.
  7. Travelers.
  8. When and where to expect Irish folk music or traditional Irish music.
  9. Knowing Irish music is a novelty not a mainstream phenomenon.
  10. Chicken salad is a salad with chunks of chicken
  11. Burgers will be served well done
  12. What is a sausage roll or a stuffing roll, and where to get a good one.
  13. Black and white pudding are two types of sausages (blood,oatmeal)
  14. A trip to the pub is not to be rushed, use pub etiquette , learn form my mistakes in Irish pub tutorial.
Nearys
What’s nice about your first vacation to Ireland in many ways is the blissful naive ignorance that allows you to be filled with wonder at the pure beauty of the sites of Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher, the Inch strand, the patchwork fields in their legendary forty shades of green. Take the time though to visit some small non descript Irish villages, be polite follow common courtesy and you may see a side of Ireland that is unique. Remember that these folks are busy living their lives and they are not there as entertainment. You’ll be amazed how some simple politeness will lead to some interesting and memorable chats.
OK some answers, since the Irish cars drive on the opposite side of the road you look the opposite way you think you should. The proper way to get a cab is to call ahead for a cab to pick you up or get in line at a taxi stand, you don’t as a rule hail a taxi down in the street as you would in America.
A pub is a public house where you can just as easily see a family enjoying some time out as well as the local rugby team. A club is a night club, where you will find modern music and people dressed to the nines. The contrast is awesome, you come out of an old pub and see a group of girls heading to the club in tight sometimes revealing dresses and six inch stiletto heels. The pubs as a rule close around 11 or 12, and the clubs can be open to 3 or 4. The wine bars serve wine, some are restaurants, in Dublin there are late night wine only bars, where you’re just as likely to see japanese tourist mixed in with dutch tourists,dancing the night away.
You can expect to find Irish folk singers busking on the streets of Galway city, or during the tourist season, in the bigger spots, Pubs in Galway city, Dublin, Cork city, tourist hot spots like Dingle or Doolin. Irish tune and sessions are more prevalent and can be found in most decent sized towns during the tourist season, for a real Irish music treat check out a Fleadh.
A sausage roll is pastry stuffed with sausage and can be bought at the local bake shop as a to go morning treat, I had a stuffing sausage roll in Tullamore, County Offaly  which reminded me of a compact Thanksgiving dinner if you served sausage instead of turkey.
So besides tracing your roots, trying your first pint of Guinness, and finding Blarney castle, learn by my irish experiences and enjoy Ireland. Oh an I almost forgot since your in Ireland for a short time you will want to avoid politics.
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The best part of traveling to Ireland more than just a few times is you get to have friends on both sides of the Atlantic, you have favorite places that seem to change little from year to year and your need to see to many things in too little time disappears. I am not a local but have friends who treat me like I was. The simple pleasure of a pint in an empty pub watching the drizzle falling on a Dublin street has a soothing effect that’s hard to describe.
Plus you don’t feel guilty about ordering chinese food, mexican, or pizza.
Cheers.

Irish bodhran, Irish drum, Irish music

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The Irish bodhran, the simplest of Irish instruments to take up and the hardest to control. When you learn to play the bodhran it’s important to remember it’s place in the session and it’s relatively minor role as background rhythm. Traditional Irish music relies on the melody, the stars of the session are fiddle, accordion, and flute. The melody of the tune is the overriding factor, don’t be a session killer, taking over the tune, but provide the background rhythm  and support the tune. That being said, in Irish songs I find great pleasure in Irish Ballads where the more traditional use of a drum can be more significant and down right haunting.

When one takes up the bodhran the most important fact to remember is that the Irish drum is a musical instrument and it takes practice to get it right. So many times people anxious to be a part of an Irish music session grab a bodhran thinking its easy. They bang on the thing and the end result is an intrusive nerve grating banging. Don’t be that guy, as with all Irish session instruments start out slowly, listen to the tune play softly as not to interfere with the melody and ease yourself in. The respect you show your fellow musicians will aid in your receiving guidance, tips, and enjoyment of playing. After taking a few lessons you could probably as good as this young fella…..

But less face it, if you are starting out trying to learn the bodhran the hardest part is how to pronounce it. There is a general rule which will follow this aside– if you pronounce it correctly there will always be a slightly different way to say it depending on the county of the Irish person you are talking to.–The general rule of pronunciation—- I asked Leo Doherty of Walton’s Music –” Leo what is the proper pronunciation of bodhran?”  ”Well, Brian, it’s a boron you moron”. Even I could figure that one out

this website give good insight for learning to play the Bodhran, click on the beginners section. And good luck and good playing.

Cheers.

Barney McKenna, end of an era in Irish music

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The end of an era with the passing of the last original Dubliner, Barney McKenna.

Barney McKenna was born in Dublin in 1939 and pioneered the development in folk music of the four stringed tenor banjo. Mr. McKenna was one of the most influential banjo players of our time and his willingness to pass on his knowledge to other players was well known. Mckenna was asked to become part of the Dubliners by fellow Irish folk music legend Ronnie Drew,The Dubliners roots extend to the Dublin bar O’Donoghues by St. Stephen’s Green. From all accounts Mr McKenna went the way most of us would want to go, he was having a cup of tea with a friend at home when he appeared to fall asleep, alas, it was his parting cup. Barney Mckenna to his credit and showing his love for the Irish music still played up to his passing, he and his band mates had toured the U.K in May and McKenna had played at a funeral the night before he passed. With McKenna’s death the last of the Original Dubliners have passed.

Current Dubliners:
  • John Sheahan - fiddle, mandolin, tin whistle, concertina (1964–present)
  • Seán Cannon - vocals, guitar (1982–present)
  • Eamonn Campbell - guitar, mandolin (1984, 1987–present)
  • Patsy Watchorn - vocals, banjo, bodhrán, spoons (2005–present)
Original members
  • Barney McKenna - Irish tenor banjo, mandolin, melodeon, vocals (1962–2012; died 2012)
  • Luke Kelly - vocals, banjo (1962–84; died 1984)
  • Ronnie Drew - vocals, guitar (1962–74, 1979–95, 2002; died 2008)
  • Ciaran Bourke - vocals, guitar, tin whistle, harmonica (1962–74; guest appearance – 1988; died 1988)

      Former members

  • Bobby Lynch - vocals, guitar (1964–65; died 1982)
  • Jim McCann - vocals, guitar (1974–79, 1984, 1987, 2002)
  • Paddy Reilly - vocals, guitar (1984, 1995–2005)

 

There are certain times that remind one of your mortality and with the passing of the last original Dubliner this is one those times. My father was one of four brothers, and the Passing Of Barney McKenna reminds me of the passing of my last uncle. They were a tight knit hard living bunch. They deserved to be, having grown up in rough times, fought in world war two, and all worked hard to make something of their lives. One doctor, two lawyers, one businessman and teacher. When my uncle Jack passed the stories of the brothers were endless, they were like one, and when he went it sank in that they were all gone, A passing of an era. Men who had done what needed to be done, honest hard working men, who enjoyed life and didn’t take any guff.

USS Pennsylvania, 31 May 1934

 

 

 

Pint of guinness good, Pint of guinness in Ireland great

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Pint of Guinness please, that black concoction produced in Ireland is the mothers milk of beer. I’m glad it has it’s own classification as stout, because beer just doesn’t do it justice.

Guinness is good for you was the old time slogan which was poo pooed by the new generation of know it alls, turns out Guinness might be right. A team of scientists from Wisconsin determined that 24 ounces of Guinness helped in the reduction of clotting activity in dogs who had narrowed arteries like those of coronary patients. The importance of an anti clotting pint of Guinness  can’t be under estimated. It’s believed the anti oxidant compounds found in a pint of Guinness are similar to those found in many vegetable and have a similar effect as an aspirin. The only problem is the effect isn’t compounded with the second or third pint.

pint of guinness

A pint of Guinness is a stout, what’s a stout you ask? Well a stout beer is defined as a beer that is brewed with roasted malt. The roasted malt gives the beer a rich dark color and flavor. In the past these dark beers were called porter and the amount of alcoholic strength a porter had was stout, stout being the strongest. So if you ask for a pint of porter you may get a Guinness, a Murphys, or maybe a Beamish, all good Irish stout beers. That’s why Tim Finnegan slept so well “with a bucket of whiskey at his feet and a bottle of porter at his head.”Before my first trip to Ireland I believed the best pint of Guinness was from the Eire pub in Dorchester Ma. The fella’s from the Eire know how to pour a perfect pint.                                                       How to pour a perfect pint  

  1. Start with a clean glass and choose the correct glass, a 20 ounce tulip glass.
  2. Tip glass at 45 degrees and pull the tap forward running the black gold down the inside of the glass.
  3. Fill to 3/4s and let the glass rest for 90 seconds.
  4. top of the glass by pushing tap back.
  5. Present perfect pint of Guinness.
  6. Take a lovely sip.

Other great places to get a nice pint of Black in the Boston area would be Paddy Barry’s Pub in the city of Quincy Ma., Gerry Hanley, originally a Cork man, serves up a nice pint of Guinness in his small pub deemed, “The best little pub in the world”.
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J.J. Foleys on Berkeley st. right off the Albany st. exit is the workingman’s pub, but also enjoyed by the young crowd as well. Jerry’s professionally attired bartenders have been a fixture in Boston for as long as I can remember, Just ask Ray Flynn, former mayor of Boston, and Ambassador to the Vatican.
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Don’t forget Mr. Dooley’s in town Boston, not too far from Faneuil hall and the business district , a bit pricey, but their pint of Guinness is served properly. Great Irish music here too, the Irish group Devri is a favorite, along with Kevin Doherty and the Sunday Session.
I’m waiting to see when the Ivy leaf will be playing their brand of Good traditional Irish tunes here.
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Now how do you improve on perfect pint of Guinness, You go to the birthplace of Guinness, Ireland.
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The combination of a perfectly poured pint of Guinness and nice Irish music, be they Irish tunes or Irish songs combined with the sweet smell of a turf fire on a crisp Irish night, that my friend is heaven. Many of my writings have been about lively Irish music sessions, beautiful back and forth chats with some Dubliners, or crowded pubs and proper  ways to treat your hosts, but one of my favorite things to do in Ireland is to enjoy the quiet moments.
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My cousin, who gets a lot of ink in these articles and who remains unnamed in case I let something slip that might get him in trouble, takes me to different pubs in the Dublin Ireland area. The nicest times have been spent in the back rooom of Nancy Murphys in the beautiful little town of Enniskerry, Wicklow. Most times I’ve been to this spot it’s been during the week and not a lot going on. The simple pleasure of a properly poured pint, in a nice, quaint,  authentic Pub with a good friend,  is by far my favorite thing in Ireland. On an occasion these simple nights can grow into large stories to be told again and again, but for the most part they are just nice, quiet, enjoyable, soak up the feel of Ireland times.
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So….. my cousin and I walk into Nancy Murphy’s one January night and it was a nice brisk walk from our accommodations up in Churchill, and we sat at the bar as it was nearly empty except for a few young ladies chatting by the fire. I had arrived the night before in Dublin and this was my first night out which made that first creamy pint of Guinness especially good. The nice part about visiting with my cousin is that our politics are of different viewpoints but we have nice discussions rather than arguments, so as we’re solving the problems of the world,(and ordering another pint) a group of women ascend on the place. They were what was left of a hen party and they were cackling and laughing to no end. Now Nancy Murphy has two sides, the nice comfortable side with arm chairs and love seats, a turf fire and a suitable bar, and the bar side with a pool table utilitarian seats and a larger bar.  The hens have had enough with the comfortable side and decide to invade the pool room. Now this is where the difference lies if your a tourist or a local, most of the girls were from the area, a couple were living in England, when the few local lads saw them coming they just laughed. The stories of the night started flowing, the pool game became co-ed, and the cackling turned into belly laughs, no need for pub etiquette when everyone already knows you. The same behavior by a tourist would not have been accepted so eagerly. That being said after the nice quiet time was shattered by this ernest good fun ,we headed over to the other side of the place and practiced good pub etiquette, and had a good laugh. My cousin asked a few questions again since he is local not a problem, and I waited to be prompted, which took a few minutes longer. the nice part of the night was we got to be a part of a really enjoyable time and have a lot of laughs, you never really know how the night will take you in ireland. I sometimes think Forest Gump might have been Irish-”The pub is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna  get.”
Cheers