This week to pub number 4, No Steemians joined me this week but I was really looking forward to visiting this pub anyway. Part of the reason for this series is to discover new pubs. I had never been in this pub before, but as I was researching it turned out a very famous person had visited this place just over 20 years ago. I wanted to find out why they came here?
The Irish Pub is an institution. To this day it is very much part of Irish life. Every aspect of life's journey is celebrated here, from wetting the baby's head to waking the dead. In recent times it has been (in)famous as a place where brown paper envelopes have been exchanged but also much loved for; the lockins, the stories, the music and the great craic. A version of the Irish pub has been exported all over the world and from Mozambique to Shanghai you can visit a "Molly Malones" or "Murphys". Each incarnation will have an Irish sounding name and be distinguished by Celtic writing above the door but there is no substitute for the real thing.
Join me as I visit some of the great pubs of Dublin, discover some secret watering holes, and help me bring Steemit to the masses!
The first post in this series will fill you in on why I have started this journey, The Irish Pub & A Dirty Old Town
Cassidy's of Camden Street
Established in 1856, many famous writers have frequented this Victorian Pub over the years.
Legend has it that old taps give the best Guinness. I can't wait to give this place a try.
The Bar and Lounge
This pub is a traditional local city center pub. It's located on Camden Street, a vibrant part of the city, especially for night-life away from the tourist trap of Temple Bar.
Today was a Monday evening just after work so it was quiet with just a few people having an after work pint.
The pub was comfortable and I would recommend it for a quiet drink any night, but it gets busy especially on match days and at the weekends. The lounge area has a lot of seating.
The Black Stuff
This trip is all about the Guinness. Doesn't it look so good, are you beginning to see the difference between a good an bad pint yet?
Look at the colour of a great pint, Unmistakeable!
Red or White?
In Ireland lemonade comes in two varieties. Red is usually mixed with spirits. It tastes lemony like the white stuff but you can't seem to get it outside Ireland.
Slainte Steemit
The GAA
Many pubs are famous as meeting points in Dublin on match day. Traditionally people would travel to "The Big Smoke" (Dublin) from the country on match day and meet up in a Landmark Dublin pub to get the tickets from their "source". There are photos of famous teams from over the years all over the walls.
There is a jersey signed by the All Ireland winning Dublin Football team of 1995 on the wall.
Trad Music
There is a session here every Sunday from 8. Check it out if your in Dublin.
Beer Gardens of Ireland
In Ireland we don't do beer gardens very well. Since pubs banned smoking they have often turned a back yard into a smoking area and called it a beer garden.
The Man himself
This is actually the reason I chose this pub today. I heard that President Bill Clinton visited here in 1995.
I got talking to the bar man and he gave me the full story. President Clinton was here to help with the Peace talks in Northern Ireland in 1995. He was having a State Dinner in Dublin following the talks and was due to go to Foto Island in Cork to play golf. The trip got cancelled for some reason and his plan B was to visit a pub in Dublin. Cassidy was his mothers name, so he visited Cassidys of Dublin.
The Pint of Murphys
The funny part of the Story, that I can share, was that as a condition for his visit, the pub had to serve Murphys porter. The pub didn't sell it then and it still does not sell it, but for the presidents visit a tap was set up in the bar especially for him. It turns out he doesn't drink porter :)
There was more to the story but that is for another day.
Decoration
The ornate roof decoration of the Victorian Pubs in Dublin is quite unique.
Many pubs have decorative mirrors and plaques
and glowing bar taps, where the magic happens.
Home Comforts
When Irish people travel abroad the miss mammys cooking and bags of Taytos. Every pub in Ireland has cheese and onion and Salt and vinegar crisps to snack on while enjoying a pint.
The Verdict
I am going to give a rating to each pub in this series based on the Guinness. There is a scale of 1-4, 4 is exceptional, 3 is very good and 2 is acceptable, 1 is muck.
Cassidys gets a 3
Join me to talk about Steemit.
Each week I will be visiting a new pub in Dublin. I am inviting anyone that is in Dublin to join me. If your new to Steemit and you want to learn more about it bring your laptop and we will get you set up. If your free on a Monday evening send me a message @eroche on Steemit Chat and I will let you know where I will be.
On my journey I also am also hoping to get at least one bar in Dublin to try STEEM as payment. You never know they might develop a taste for it. :)
You are likely to meet anyone in a Dublin Pub. From John F Kennedy to Barak Obama there have been 7 American Presidents spotted in Dublin Pubs. I am unlikely to get to talk to President Trump if he visits but if I meet any other celebrities in my travels I will be sure to introduce them to Steemit and get a Selfie.
Can't wait till next Monday!
If there is an Irish Bar near you, send me a photo of the outside and I will include shots of pubs from around the world in a monthly roundup.
“It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.”
― Brendan Behan
Thank you for reading this. I write on Steemit about Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Travel and lots of random topics.
