IAMA Bar owner in Dublin and its St. Patrick's day.

What is best kind of customer you can hope for on a day like today?

A quiet rich one

What was last year like?

Not as busy as the year before. Paddys day is for tourists now.

How do you feel about Teeling whiskey reviving the distilling in Dublin?

It's great. More and more opening now.

How does the celebration on St Patrick's day compare to Arthur Guinness day?

It's close

What's the ratio of people drinking to have fun and drinking to black out?

They all start out having fun..

Do you look forward to St. Patrick's day every year or panic as it starts to come closer?

I hate it so much

Don't you make a lot of money from it though? Or do you already make so much that you don't care or need it?

Hardly. It's just a mentally and physically taxing day.

Man I miss Dublin. Want to hire an American with zero skills and potential? :p

Yeah sure

How many pints of Guiness will you sell today? And why is Smithwicks an underrated gem?

Edit: this is now a Smithwicks appreciation comment chain!

Smithwicks isn't as underrated as MacArdles!

How many kegs will you go through?

I'll tell you at the end of the night

What places do you recommend near your bar?? I’ll be in Dublin for the first time in two weeks and definitely want to stop by as I love these AMAs every year.

Drop in here and we will point you in the right direction

Oh my god I thought I just read wrong.

My best friend and I have been to your bar last November/December and came in 15 mins before you closed down, we actually stayed for another 2 hours and chilled with your employees. By that time we we‘re quite drunk and could not bear to come back the next day because it was just too embarrassing. I talked to I think your door guy Connor about the UFC fighter Connor McGregor and he told me that Connor McGregor was not a nice person which lead me to ask in the UFC subreddit about it. Turned out that was true. But this night really made our weekend and I will always look back and just laugh. It’s a great bar with really cool people!

Whoops I didn’t ask a question and my comment got removed:

So how is Connor doing? And could you please let your team know that they are awesome? Thanks

I'll let him know!

Do you prefer busy nights like tonight or more chill nights?

Somewhere in the middle where everyone including the staff are enjoying themselves

Why don't you let Jay handle the AMA for once? Everyone knows he's the best barman the Thommo has....

He's not even the best keg lifter we have. Let alone barman.

How many Americans will you have served by the end of today?

All of them

Which tourists are your favourite?

Canadians.

How do you understand someone from Donegal?

By dividing the accent by Northern Irish and multiplying by aquaman

I'm here to answer your questions so hit me with your best shot!

I see what you did there.

What's a drink that you personally think is underrated -- a sort of hidden gem that doesn't get the love it deserves? If you had to impress someone with something that they'd never tried before, what would you put in front of them?

(Best of luck for the rest of the day, and thanks for answering questions!)

Powers gold label whiskey. All day.

Do people really care whether you choose to order Bushmills or Jameson?

Not really. They are both wrong

Have any bar staff gotten so drunk on Paddy's day that they've had to be sent home?

Never ever

The first time I went to a Dublin pub, years ago, I didn’t know that one apparently doesn’t leave tips at the bar.

I was pointed at and laughed at by the bartender. “Look at the Yank, lads!” and so forth.

Why was getting free money given in good faith taken as such a personal affront, and is it still that way?

Tips are appreciated but not required.

I live in Boston and the drinking crowds are completely insane/obnoxious. Everyone thinks they’re Irish. On a weekend like this bars make the whole weekend a green celebration. What’s it like in Ireland on this day? Are there a lot of shenanigans or are people typically over the hype?

It's just international Irish day. Tourists everywhere

I’m American and my birthday is today, so I’ve always embraced the kitschiness of the US celebrations. But now that I’m older, I need to buckle down and focus on the more important things in life... so what’s your recommendation for the best whiskey (whisky?) for beginners?

Powers gold label

In the US St Pats is one of those amateur night events, meaning you get all the people who rarely drink come out and get shit-faced. Is it the same way over there?

Exactly the same

What’s your funniest memory of St. Patrick’s day?

Them fucking snakes

Murphy's or Guinness? Lyon's or Barry's?

Guinness and Barry's

I'm watching the live stream of Temple Bar, when does the public BJ's and barfing usually start?

Around six

Best beer you got on tap?

St Bernados

Do you remember having a lock in, after a Dropkick Murphys gig in Vicar St 5 or 6 years ago? I was there, was an awesome night

Lock ins are illegal so I have no idea what you are talking about...

Do you get more foreigners or Irish on average? And does that change in St. Patrick’s day?

Way more tourists this time of year

How do you feel about Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale? Had it while I was in Dublin last month and it’s now my favorite beer of all time.

We sell it!

How much Guinness do you order before hand?

About triple a normal order

Good luck to you, friend! Upstate NY, here, and I've no desire to leave my couch this day. How's the weather?

Sunny and windy

Why is the Guinness not so much cheaper in Dublin? I'm outside Belfast and if I paid those prices in Belfast for a pint, I'd freak out haha

Excise taxes

What’s your worst customer story?

There's a few. A guy attacked me one night while I was djing. That was no fun.

What do you think about Guinness's new Baltimore production facility?

Great news

A snooty Irish-American told me that Irish in Ireland do not go out getting shit-faced on green beer, but treat the day as the religious holiday that it is. Are there more Irish in church today, at the pub, or both?

Very few Irish people go out today

Does anyone over there actually eat corned beef and cabbage?

Yep. Not a lot though

Gday, In your experience where are the most troublesome/annoying tourists from? - also where are the friendliest/best tourists from? Good luck and thanks for the AMA!

English stag/bachelor parties

Is this the answer to both questions?

Yes.

Hi, man with really nice beard. What's your least favorite drink (both to serve and drink?)

Any sort of shitty shot like baby Guinness or car bomb. Most of the time I just say we don't do em

I had a quick visit back to Dublin last Christmas after emigrating a few years ago, and thought it was crazy that they had like a cupcake shop on Thomas St. Would not have expected that at all.

Do you think the place is being gentrified? For better or for worse?

100% it's on the up. I feel like it's more being brought into line with the rest of the city more than gentrification

Do you find tourists respectful enough on St. Patrick's day ?

Most of them are fine

Is green beer acceptable or frowned upon in Ireland?

Fuck Green beer

I was told when in Dublin to go to the Brazen Bull pub. Why is that place such a big deal?

The brazen head. It's a really old pub. Mostly for tourists

What kind of music do the tourists want to hear?

I'm djing later so I don't give a shit. They'll take what I give em!

How does it feel knowing no matter how good your whiskey is, it will never be Scotch?

It feels good knowing I'll never have to drink diluted smoke juice. Fuck scotch.

Mayonnaise or mustard?

Neither

What do you Mainly serve? Guinness?what snacks are typically served during St Patrick’s day?

Stout, lager and cider mostly today

Favourite Irish beer I should look for next time I'm over? I prefer pale ales to stouts.

Anything by Yellow belly

Craziest thing to happen in your bar on SPD?

Mostly people passing out or sleeping to be honest

What's your favourite drink and why?

Powers John's Lane whiskey

How do you handle people that ask for an Irish Carbomb?

(Because I know people are stupid and I want to be the first to ask this question today.)

Make it and sell it

I’m across the road in Kennedy’s. Should I pop over?

If you want. Doors are open!

What do you think about the possibility of a hard border between the republic and northern Ireland?

Here in the states we are hearing that the troubles could start again. Do you get the same feeling there?

Fingers crossed for no hard border.

Appreciate the AMA but why do it if you are just going to give stilted responses? Some people are asking open ended questions qnd you just say one word or o e quick line.

Only to the repeated questions

I appreciate your AMA every year. It’s become a tradition for me. I’d love to visit someday but I don’t drink brown liquor. Would it be frowned upon to drink vodka there???

Absolutely not. We are big fans of vodka too

How much does the rugby add to the festivities? Is it just dialed up another notch or is it just biz as usual?

No idea. I pay no attention to it.

What are the 3 things that an American tourist in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day should NOT do.

For example, I was visiting a bar in the UK and I ordered an "Irish Car Bomb" (which is a drink in the States, not at all thinking about the words that I was using and the history behind them) I got an extremely frosty response from the bartender and he refused to wait on me for the rest of the night. Can't blame him, it was ignorant of me. Are there other things that tourists have a tendency to do without thinking that they should avoid?

Rules are the same the world over. Be respectful to the staff and the customers around you. You arent to know about local culture until you have experienced it.

You uh... alright? But actually, got any crazy stories?

Dude ate a dead lizard once

What’s the scene like? Rowdy? Crowded? Music?

We haven't even opened yet

Can I get a jack and coke?

Yes

Is losing to Wales in the 6 Nations impacting today's celebration?

No idea

Do people generally prefer EPL or League of Ireland? What teams are most popular?

I know nothing about football. LoI is very popular though

Would a liqored up Sasquatch be able to fight 10 drunk leprechauns?

Easily. Squatches for life.

Do you drink on the job? Ever had an employee get a little too wasted during their shift?

Not usually. Sometimes near the end of a shift you might pull a pint to sip on

Does this St Paddys day feel any different with the looming fallout of Brexit fast approaching?

Nope.

Do you get annoyed about how a billion $/£/€ brewing company co-opted not only a festival but also basically branded itself all over an entire city? (I know that has always really frustrated about Dublin, I don't really know why, but it does.)

If it makes money for the the pub. I'm in. As bad as that sounds. Staff need wages, bills need paying.

Is it rainy today? What makes a typical Irish day? Did i tell u i loove wishkey wkishey wiskey whiskey?

We all love whisky

Jameson, Powers, Teelings, Tulamore, Bushmills?

All the above. But mostly Powers.

How many beers does your avarage costumer consume?

700000

I always toy with the though of going to Dublin on Paddys day (Czech guy here). If I do next year, will I encounter only drunk people or is that day as atmospheric as I imagine it to be?

Just drunk people

How fucking cold is it?

Middlin

St. Patrick's Day used to be more of a religious holiday in Ireland. When did the country really embrace the party aspect of the day?

It's been a tourist day for as long as I remember to be honest

What do you think of Conor McGregors Proper 12 whiskey?

I haven't had it yet. I assume it's piss.

How do you react when someone orders a “car bomb”?

Make it and sell it

Do you serve green Guinness ?

Absolutely not.

Why is "Patty's Day" such a faux pas? How does St. Patrick's day get shortened to "Paddy's" and not "Patty's"?

Cause paddy is short for Patrick here usually

Have you always worked in bars or had different jobs as well? If the latter, what was the best?

This was the first bar I'd ever worked in. I was a promoter and DJ for years before. Still am I suppose.

Will you get a lot (or any) tips today?

Hopefully.

Do you get many Glaswegians coming over?

I don't speak Martian so it's hard to tell where they are from..

Have you seen anyone cosplaying as a leprechaun?

There are thousands of them here today

What will you do when it’s time to clean?

Clean.

People drink a ton in America for St Paddy's day, how is it over there and what's the profit like?.

It's busy here.

[deleted]

Nope.

Did anyone ever order a "Car bomb"?

Yes.

How many Irish car bombs have you served today?

Zero. Not really an Irish thing

Do you guys actually get mad that us Americans call it patty’s?

A little.

Drinking, violence, destruction of property. Are these the things we think of when we think of the Irish?

Hopefully.

How many drunk English people have you wanted to punch during your shift?

Zero

Is "Green Beer" a thing around there??

No

What happened to Messrs McGuires, The Waxy Dargle and The Quill? I leave the place for 5 minutes and you guys close down all the good places.

Admittedly the Waxy was a bit of a shit hole - but we fucking loved the Quill. Such a tragedy.

Quill is still sitting there rotting

Why do the best Irish punk bands come from America?

Cause you haven't heard the Irish ones

Whats the nuacht these days? Are there Garda everywhere?

Just in town

Shouldn't you be, you know... working?

I'm the boss. But yeah I'll do a bit later