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IMA bar owner in Dublin, Ireland on St.Paddys day.
** And that's it. St Patrick's day is over for another year. It was a long and stressful day but it's done now. Catch you all down the road at some stage! Thanks for the questions!
Proof at www.twitter.com/thomashousedub
I'm back again for a mini session. Yes it's St.Patricks day. And yes I own and run a pub here in Dublin. It's 11:45am and the streets are already busy. We open for business in one hour. We are The Thomas House and we're located at 86 Thomas Street in The Liberties area of Dublin. So feel free to ask me anything about this, one of our busiest days of the year.
https://vimeo.com/90651618 a video of the bar. I'm Gar!
I also run an Internet radio show every Sunday. Details at www.twitter.com/elbangbangshow so check us out there!
bombidol1400 karma
Guinness. Founders All Day IPA. Porterhouse Red Ale. Jameson. Powers. Bushmills.
Nbed98531171 karma
I'm from Grand Rapids, and that lit up my face to see that Founders is having that much reach overseas, especially on a big day like today!
ontopofyourmom195 karma
Have American-style microbrews or other craft beers/real ale/whatever made much of an inroads with Ireland's drinking public?
bombidol1206 karma
It's absolute mayhem in the city for the last few days. There are hundreds of thousands of tourists descended upon the city to see the parade and celebrate their Irish heritage. Pretty much from midday on it turns into a massive drinking session. Like an all day New Year's Eve.
CharlesCat396 karma
All personal financial benefit aside, what are your thoughts/feelings on Americans celebrating their Irish heritage?
bombidol1186 karma
I'm all for it. What's the harm? As a rule Americans are a pleasure to deal with in bars. Once they realise that here we pay on delivery of the beer. Tabs etc are a rarity.
CharlesCat205 karma
Well that's good news. I could understand if our nostalgia was a bit thick at times. Such as, "Ohh look at that charming stone wall out in the pasture. I'm just going to go take a stone from the wall.. to remember."
steve_kuato558 karma
I think the only thing the Irish get confused about (I'm Irish) is when Americans say "oh I'm Irish" we we interpret to mean born in Ireland but actually it means my grandmother came to the U.S. 150 years ago.
Nothing wrong with it, but it is a cultural difference for sure.
Sorry for the shit grammar but it's Paddy's day.
jaytreaty17181524 karma
How many people on average do you have to kick out on St. Patrick's day?
Gortrok350 karma
That sounds like a huge amount! How many bouncers do you have working today?
elpaw522 karma
How annoyed do you get by people calling it St Patty's Day (with the 'tt')?
Ehhoe406 karma
How many people do you expect to not be able to leave on home on their own, in a rough percent?
bombidol565 karma
Most will be fine as in general people are transient on a day like today and go from pub to pub. You just have to watch the doors and make sure that people that are too drunk don't get in.
ruddagermacguffin401 karma
Did you have many people in your bar off their bakes on the old yokes last week?
SlicK5250 karma
What do you do to prepare staff that has not experienced the madness before?
bombidol449 karma
On a day like today we switch to plastic "glasses" so they are told not to leave the bar unless of emergency. To take their time and not get rushed by people screaming at them.
Grepus221 karma
What equally insensitive shot name are you going to offer all the American's who will undoubtedly ask for an Irish Car Bomb at some point?
plasticcastle194 karma
How do you manage to pour a decent Guinness under such pressure from the crowds? Are you pouring to order, is it settling properly?
bombidol304 karma
We always pour in order. When it gets crazy busy we start pre pouring the first stage then top up. They are never sitting long.
bombidol741 karma
The Dropkick Murphys are playing across the street today so it will all be similar to their style more than likely.
A1SauceBoss168 karma
As a fellow bar owner, strip club owner to be exact, what kind of margins do you make In dubin?
B00YAY159 karma
Man, went to Dublin from Tennessee for St Patricks in 2007. Traveled with the University of Tennessee band to March in the big parade. Went out that night and never saw such a hot mess. Spent an hour trying to find a bar we could get into in Temple Bar only to give up and wander to a place called Hurricanes. Crazy town. I don't see how the bars made money considering noone could move to get to and from the bars. I imagine the aftermath is like mardi gras in New Orleans. How big of a mess is the place after today?
bombidol170 karma
I just did! Lemme get an hours sleep and walk these dogs and call me back at 7/8pm Irish time if you can.
FreddyFazBAM145 karma
What's the craziest thing you've encountered on St. Patrick's Day in your bar?
FreddyFazBAM39 karma
I am Irish, and lived in Ireland. But I NEVER saw anything like that!
bhuvan4130 karma
How weird would be for you open a barn in India and have people ask weird questions about your accent?
something_python128 karma
This is the first st Patrick's day I've not been out getting pissed since I was 15. I'm stuck right now, alone, in China. What do you suggest I do to have a good paddys day?
bombidol395 karma
Enjoy China. You aren't missing anything here that you won't see again !
ballet_ribbons108 karma
I work in an Irish pub in Canada. What are your thoughts on all the "Irish" things we do in North America on St. Patrick's day that aren't very Irish at all? (Green beer, for example.)
Topbong93 karma
Are the new beers from Guinness any good? I've seen them advertised but not tried them yet. Are they proving popular?
bombidol85 karma
It's all over the place. Probably less than quarter that if we are lucky.
MudBankFrank53 karma
Hey trying to visit Dublin again, Was there for the Penn State game last August had a blast. Any recommendations? every local told us to stay out of Temple Bar last time.
bombidol85 karma
Most of the pubs and restaurants on the outskirts of the city will be more suitable for humans today.
wilburtino38 karma
Defend The Thomas House!
I'm avoiding town today, always messy. How many people do you envisage having to throw out today? It's a weird day, 5pm feels like 3am with people stumbling around.
bombidol20 karma
I'm slowing down a little for an hour or two to grab some rest between shifts. Keep the questions coming and I promise I'll a see em all (maybe)
LizzieDane11 karma
On a scale from 1 to having my passport taken off me, how bad is it that I've never celebrated this and I live on the same island you do?
katrinald6 karma
How do you feel about American celebrations for St. Patrick's Day. Do we get it right or make fools of ourselves?
bombidol16 karma
It can be a fun day for everyone. The problem comes when people abuse alcohol.
afspdx2 karma
I hope the tradition I've seen in lot on American pubs and bars on St. Patrick's Day to serve beer dyed green in color is really a dumb Yankee idea. Is St. Paddy's Day in Dublin green beer free?
Deximaru1 karma
What would say to convince a local that being behind the bar is better than propping up the bar?
Also, what is the most popular drink today?
ristorilsm0 karma
Is it big in the England area ...thingy mainland deal?
Whatever you call where Oxford is
the0ncomingstorm-5 karma
Does anyone in Ireland give a shit about St. Patty's day, or is it, as I suspect, just a reason for Americans to get belligerent drunk and be stupid?
bombidol5 karma
People enjoy bringing their children to see the parade but I think the average adult avoids the city centre like the plague.
CharlesCat1373 karma
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