My husband I spent 3 weeks in Ireland a few years ago and ate all of our meals in pubs except once or twice in "restaurants" which were expensive and very fussy.

When we just wanted a drink, we found that sitting at the bar is the only way to go. If we sat at a table, we never met anyone. But everytime we sat at the bar, we engaged in the most fascinating conversations with whoever was sitting next to us, usually a single man. They could be 20 years old or 80 years old, but to a person, they were extremely friendly, polite and delighted that we were American. Ireland is still our favorite place and there is no question that the people are the friendliest on the planet, at least to Americans.

Hi There

As has been noted above you will find the atmosphere, the craic, will be great. Irish people especially in the countryside are a pretty friendly bunch on the whole. On the west coast where the accents are thicker and harder to understand I found increasing your intake of Guinness helped with the translation.

Just don't make the mistake I and some friends made when we were in a pub in Kerry when last orders had just been called. The band had been playing and everyone was singing and then everyone bar us stood up and sang. Dolts that we are did not realise it was the national anthem. Once they figured out we were foreign they excused us though.

This was the only slip up we made on a trip round Ireland where we existed on Guinness so we saw the inside of many a place and enjoyed the hospitality of the locals at several lockins.

Be even better now that Ireland has gone smokefree in bars.

Slainte

Steve

If you are getting served to your table in a pub, I would generally leave a small tip - just some small change, or else a couple of euro at the end of the night. If you go to the bar to get your own drinks it's not necessary to tip.

Tipping in bars is a shameful practice.It may ingratiate you with the barstaff but will make you unpopular with the other customers who will see it as an attempt to jump future queues.
When it is done money is never directly handed over.The brownnoser will lean further over when paying for the drinks and murmur "....and take one for yourself" thus maintaining the fiction that the barkeep is your pal rather than your servant.

Kiwi_acct writes: "...The band had been playing and everyone was singing and then everyone bar us stood up and sang. Dolts that we are did not realise it was the national anthem. Once they figured out we were foreign they excused us though."

You're lucky! It would be acceptable to stand and not sing along; but it's never acceptable to remain seated when the National Anthem is played. Isn't that the way it is in N.Z.?

I guess that falls under Pub etiquette and it is often the case: The Republic of Ireland's National Anthem is a last tune to be played. I've been in Pubs where this is done and in others (ex. the Quays, Ennis, County Clare) where it isn't. I just 'go with the flow.'

spratt: yes, all the bars sell baileys.

rcab: the law is that kids under 18 must not be in a bar after 9pm. even at 18 they should carry id (a passport) as if the publican is in any doubt, he will not serve them. however, the law with regard to their being in the bar after 9pm - but NOT drinking alcohol - is sometimes relaxed a little in the countryside. probably not at all in the cities but i'm not sure on that one.

zippo: i assume that was tounge in cheek reply? :)

http://www.fancyapint.com/

This is a great site for pub culture etiquette in the UK. Ireland isn't all that different.

re: buying drinks in rounds

When you are out to the pub for an evening with a group of friends the buying of drinks in Ireland is usually done in rounds. One person will ask everyone what they want then goes up to buy all the drinks. As soon as everyone's drink is lowered to almost empty another will volunteer to take an order and go up to place/pay for it. Everyone drinks and everyone pays at least once. Obviously the more friends in the group the more drinking you do. This usually does not happen if you in a pub on your own - IOW, you won't be buying drinks for everyone in a pub.

If you get into a good conversation with someone they may offer to pick up a round. Just remember that Return in Kind will be expected from you. If you want to be super nice and be the instigator of the Round then you can expect the favor returned as well - and you'll show that you know/understand the custom. You won't ask "Can buy you a drink?" Just ask "what are you having?" when you see everyone's drink is low and you get up to order...

Hope this helps explain it a bit more...

Have a wonderful time.

Slainte! ((b))
Wendy

To each his own on Whiskey & Whisky. A drop or two of water to "open up" most whiskies is a good idea. A very strong whisky or one with less age will benefit from a bit of water, but not too much. It should not burn on the tongue.

Baileys is very readily available as are quite a number of soft drinks. As we love points out, in the country you will sometimes find younger people in pubs after 9:00. Music usually is scheduled to start between 9:30 & 10:00 which generally means that is when the band shows up, orders a beer, steps outside for a smoke (at least now anyway) and fiddles with his gear. Fortunately, trad bands don't take long to set up and some of the players come and go during the festivities.

Even though ordering food at the bar is still the custom, it is becoming more commonplace for staff to come out and take orders as they adapt to tourism. This occurs from time to time in areas with high tourism.

As to sitting at the bar, I've had some great experiences doing just that and normally you will be left alone when you are at a table. I haven't gotten a greater number of strange stares while sitting at the bar then while sitting at a table. It's possible though, that I just get strange stares everywhere I go.

Bill

Bar or table - either is fine to sit at. I like to eat at a table if we are having food but I still love to sit at the bar when having a drink....this I think is a habit from the states. Also I think you have more entertainment at the bar. My other half feels the same.

If you but the place a drink...they will think you are a rich American ejit! Don't let anyone comvince you to but the bar a reound unless its a tiny place with three old farmers in it. Saying that if you get talking to someone ask what they are having as mentioned above...they will buy you one back though so allow them to return the favour.

Tipping is not the standard just some change if you like left over or if a teenages is brining drinks to the tabel as a lounge boy/girl give them some change but son't go overboard. I know its hard to do when tipping is the norm some places but it is not in pubs here.

In my local if I tipped them they would look at me like I was a nutter.

Also you CANNOT drink if you can reach the bar. 18 is the legal age and I would not feel that you can have your 15 year old ordering drinks for himself unless he is 6foot 2 and looks 18! Contracry to what some may think it is not acceptable over here.

Ii have enjoyed all these talks here - a friend and I will be going back to Ireland next week for our third trip. Can't tell you how excited we are!

In all of our travels, I have wondered this: my friend does not drink beer, (except occasionaly a Murphy's) and does not drink whisky. She will drink a trad. American mixed drink like a whisky sour or some such thing ( I LOVE the beer!) but we were always afraid to order it. Is this acceptable? Also, she loves Bailey's, but how is it served? Many thanks, in advance and slainte!

Baileys is served usually over ice. Don't be afraid to ask for a drink other than Beer. I am usually the driver when going out and I drink soft drinks all night long. This is perfectly acceptable and no one will think it strange.

Enjoy!

You can order vodka and orange juice or things like that. Just don't ask for a screwdriver! You're charged separately for the vodka and for the OJ, so it can get quite expensive on the night.

>Can my husband have a whiskey on the rocks?<

Only if you want everyone in the pub to go into shock.

((I))

Hello everyone!

We are traveling to ireland this fall and I love the "Pub tips" since I plan to be there most nights!!

I love to drink cider & Harp and I have been calling it a "Snakebite" here in the states. Is it also called a snakebite in Ireland and if not how should I order it?

Cheers!!

yup - it's called snakebite here too! :)

Snakebite is seen as a bit of a nutters' drink in the UK and some pubs won't serve it. (Supposed to make you extra drunk.) Is this the case in Ireland ? I have been out in a group of people where one was drinking snakebite & the person going to the bar had to buy separate halves of cider & lager, for the drinker to mix together in an empty pint glass.

Yes, Caroline, my experience is the same. I've worked in pubs, and snakebite was almost always a banned substance!

To be honest, it's just drunk by kids who want to get pissed as fast as possible, rather than by people who actually enjoy the taste of beer

Kate: harsh but fair :-)

I'm often amused by comments on this board about what you're 'allowed' to drink in pubs. You can drink whatever you like! Beer is just one of many many options, alcoholic and otherwise. Pubs are really no different from American bars (only with a better beer selection ;) My God, they even serve coffee and tea in most pubs now! (my Grandad is no doubt turning in his grave at the thought).