If you have any comments on these emails or can help with any of the
requests or just want to have your say on a pub related issue, email us atinfo@dublinpubscene.com and it shall
be posted here.
From Pat I had a look at the number of pubs in Dublin on your website. Yes we have a drink problem I'm convinced. How can so many stay open with our small population compared to other countries. I've also noticed that we have the most expensive prices in Europe. What a country. Roll on the smoking ban.
From Niall I work as an advertising photographer in town.
I'm doing a shot next week that is based in a pub, and requires an old
fireplace in the background. I'm having difficulty finding a suitable
location due to the restrictions imposed by the design brief and I was
wondering if anyone there could be of help.
The fireplace must be old and rustic looking with a large hearth and
preferably wide as opposed to tall. Also, there should be space either side
to allow it to fit onto a billboard.
If anyone there knows of any good locations and could pass them on I'd be
very grateful.
From Barbara I would love to come to your PUB, cause I always wanted to make a trip to Dublin, so, Your PUB has got to be the one I would choose.
I would invite:
JAVIER: He is a fantastic fello, very cute. Funny as a clown, in fact, he is a clown. Makes those balloon animals, and hats for everyone. Great fun at a party. (and he's my husband. Gotta bring him along.)
STERLING: One of my best friends, came over to the mainland from Hawaii 20 years ago and decided I was fabulous. Been friends ever since. Real screamer, and a great Cher impersonater. He doesn't drink, but I won't hold that against him. (more for me)
CHER: Always thought she would be fun to party with, especially at your PUB. Sterling could ask for her personal tips on his performance.
PAUL RODRIGUEZ: I like funny guys, and he is hysterical. Add a few pints and you have this funny guy, with Cher and a drag queen. Very good Chemistry.
GEORGE LOPEZ: Another funny guy, resembles my husband and you know they would all have a blast in Ireland. hahaha
From Tommy What a great web site...absolutely awesome!
Question, my buddy & I will be getting away from the wives and dirty diapers
for a few days and will find ourselves in Dublin for 3 days (October 18-21).
We'll be coming over from New York City and would love to hang out in a pub
with a great jukebox...doesn't have to be anything fancy (the less fancy the better), but a jukebox filled with a great mix of old and new would be nice. Any ideas would be much appreciated!
From Max Can you give, or know where I can get, any information on the heads that adorn Molloy's, Talbot Street, Dublin. To See The Heads in question, click here
From Kay I used to go and see a band called Full Circle in Bad Bobs and just wondering if they are still on the go and where they play?
From Trina Just wondering if you by any chance would know how I could get in touch with a Dublin band called The Usual Suspects? I have seen them play in Dublin before.
From Patricia Hi from Spain, I went to Turk Head, and I enjoyed it a lot, now i have a problem, i met a boy called Christian, whose father is spanish and he is called Pedro. I need to know the e-mail of that guy, beacuse he is walking around my head since this Friday. Please help me, i have fell in love, and i cant do anything, Im sure that Christian usually goes to this pub. Thank you very much, im not a crazy girl, i promise you!!!thank you, los of kisses from a spanish girl who loves Dublin.
If you're Christian or know who he is, please email us and we'll pass your email onto Patricia.
From Debbie My friends and I enjoy our smoke (while drinking) and we have decided not to go to Dublin and to take our weekend trip to Glasgow. What a shame. I understand that smoking should be kept away from places serving food, but I feel the pubs should still allow it.
From Caroline Please can u help me???????? I have been put in charge of my sister's hen night?? Ok i hear u say not such a bad thing well i have never been to Dublin (hence where it is)!!! Please Please tell me where to go and what to do??? I was thinking of ice skating for a laugh on sat afternoon!!!!! But trying to find where is impossible??? There will be 24 girls ages 25 to 35 all up for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what would you have do, mail us at info@dublinpubscene.com
From Paul Last Friday 8th of August I went into a popular Ballsbridge pub for lunch. With an outside seating area the pub was ideal for the beautiful day it was. The menu was pretty limited. I decided to stay indoors. I ordered form a slightly ignorant man in his mid 30's, who I thought was very quick with me. I put this down to it being Friday lunch time and didn't take offence. I odered the beef stew with mash. It came out well presented but to my disbelief I found a fly in the middle of the mash. I alerted the waitress who apoligised and told me i didn't have to pay. I felt they could have been more supportive and comforting, but no. I just left disgusted.
So what would you have done, mail us at info@dublinpubscene.com
From Andrew Myself and two friends were surprised and somewhat puzzled as to why we were refused entry last night to a popular Dublin nightclub. as part of a gang of 5, 2 of the lads gained entry. when asked for a reasonable reason for us being refused he(the bouncer)simply smiled and said you look like a scumbag junkie. at first i was annoyed and i just wanted to give him such a kicking.i just dont know how he has the right to call somebody a scumbag junkie when he doesnt even know me. to make matters worse i think he got what looked like money from the other guy because he refused us.
From Margaret Where can I find some historical information on Irish
pubs in general, especially on how they grew to be such a social institution. Can you help?
From Michael What is needed is a good honest doctor who smokes and drinks and, who washes his/her hands after going to the loo. I remember seeing the original article about passive smoking years ago. That study was done over a number of years,with 250 subjects. I would presume any doctor with the above cv would have more reservations about pub hygiene than smoking. That is the doctor who should decide. My doctor used to say, if your gonna smoke, take a drink-and vica versa. I didn't argue with him.
From Scott I can see the point from the employers perspective that the barstaff have to put up with others smoke as well as other non smoking patrons but isn't it possible to ban smoking form the bar area?? or at least have just a solitary zone where smokers can indulge, I just think its going to hit pubs and bars very hard if this ban is brought it, it is going to lead to the closure of bars bacause trade will fall off, people especially mid week, will just go to the off licence where upon they can return home and smoke away to their hearts content.
Do the government really realise the implications of banning smoking on revenue to the country?? and of all the places to do it you couldnt pick a city where the ban will hit harder than Dublin.
It is such a tourist destination and to stop tourists smoking in your pubs just means they wont come back again, its going to lose the country so much money it doesnt bare thinking about.
From Donna Do you have any history on the name of this pub? I am looking for Creamore's (Cremore Craymore Creymore) family.
From Caroline If you are a girl, asking for a pint of Guinness in particular, be prepared to wait a long time! I watched as the two pints I ordered were given away to ppl who ordered after me - TWICE. When I tried to speak to the barman, I was waved away. A girl beside me had the same treatment.
From Susan Myself & a few of my friends went to Ron Blacks on Dawson stree( the big one) on Friday 13th June for the first time. The first two times we attended the girls toilet, there was toilet paper but for the rest of the night there was none. We said it to 2 lounge girls but by the end of the night there was still none!!
I find this completely disgusting and a disgrace considering that I was paying
at one point 7.45 Euro for a vodka and 7up! Surely they can afford to purchase
toilet paper charging those prices. We all agreed that we would not go back
there as from a girls point of view it is unacceptable and certainly unhygenic.
From Louise Congratulations on a great site! Its really handy to be able to skim through
all the pubs before heading out. I was hoping you could tell me, if it is legal for a pub to
insist that you leave in your coat as soon as you walk in the door? I'm normally at the pub in question (West, Blanchardstown-featured on your site) for around 10pm. There is no dance floor in West, and if I don't squash my jacket up into my bag I have to pay one euro, not very much for one person, however I'm sure the management make a fortune this way, as it's always packed. I was wondering if this is legal. I would be very grateful of you could mail me with any information regarding this matter.
From Alistair: Re the article on 'Unsafe' O'Connell Street, you have my sympathy. We have a similar problem in our city centre, a situation not uncommon to many cities throughout the UK.
I wonder how bad the situation has to get before a zero tolerance policy is
adopted on a national scale. If it works in a city the size of New York,
I'm sure it would ease the situation in a city the size of Dublin. These
situations don't disappear, they only get worse unless action is taken.
From Alistair: With reference to Scott's email on the decision to ban smoking in
Pubs, I have a couple of questions to ask on this proposed lunacy.
Given that an American authority has now stated that the whole
passive smoking issue has been grossly over-exaggerated, putting the
findings of the researchers into some sort of context;
a) YES passive smoking doesn't do you any favours; and
b) Nor does it constitute a serious health risk.
Are the decisionss , therefore, based on the whim of a non-smoking-non-'Regular-Pub'-attending-do-good-fat-cat who has no regard
for what the ordinary people really want (Hope this doesn't sound too Bolshy)?
3) Is there anyone out there who visits this wonderful city regularly
and doesn't go to your pubs? The pubs and the people are two of the main
reasons we (The tourists) visit Ireland.
I know for a fact that the group of friends with whom I visit Dublin every
year, would have to go somewhere other than Dublin should this threat be
carried out. The result of this decision, will be 'A City of
Bars' where people stand outside in the street satisfying their addiction.
The toilets would also become a haven for those wishing to ease their craving.
From Stephen:Having heard that this particular pub (Q-bar)had opened that day, my friends and I decided to check it out that same evening.When we arrived at the door the bouncers refused us entry telling us that it was regulars only! Concidering it had only been open a number of hours, we had to laugh. Slainte.
From Scott: I would like to throw in my 50 cents worth regarding the VFI's recent decisions. Firstly, to ban smoking in pubs is a ridiculous concept. The whole nature of pub life is that a person may go out with friends and let their hair down, enjoy a beer and a chat, and generally wind down and enjoy themselves. Pub is short for public house, a house for the public. Have we forgotten that??
I myself do not and have never smoked but I dont mind people doing it if its what they want to do, they can do it in other buildings and as long as it isnt wafted in the face of diners, I dont see a problem with it.
I understand the health implications but pubs should simply invest in air conditioning systems and/or have designated no smoking areas. Cigarette smoke is part of publore, it always has been and always should be, it is an expression of relaxation of the self and comfortable, casual enjoyment, the essence of what a good pub is supposed to be.
Aside from our statutory rights I am sure that there will be a downfall in trade as those that smoke NEED to smoke and if they arent allowed to do it they will do it elsewhere. In short they will stay at home, thus denting the publicans profits.
Second rant is in regard to the banning of shots. Aside from being traditional, shots are only one form of alcohol, if people want to get drunk and you stop them drinking shots they will drink 10 pints of carlsberg instead of 6 and 2 aftershocks. Simple as. To let a kid in a sweet shop and hide the jar of jelly babies aint going to stop his teeth rot.
Third point, my most vigorous one, is the introduction of ID cards. I understand there is a problem with underage drinking in Ireland, (where isnt there??) but why make the card extend to the age of 24?? why not 20 or 21? The bottom line is that the people aged between 18 and 24 are still going to drink just as much, perhaps even more in their now rebellion fuelled festivities, because they will have their cards with them, so why penalise the majority of us by making us carry these ridiculous ID badges when if the bouncers simply checked the younger looking partons for ID on entry the problem could be eliminated.
It makes sense to target the small group as oppsed to the larger one, to try and regulate the 15-17 year olds in dublin city centre on a saturday night by checking for ID would be much simpler than to check the percieved 18-24 year olds who legally are entitled to be there anyway, there are more of them and they arent doing anything wrong. Leave them alone and address the problem of underage drinking by not allowing youngsters into your bar.
Linked to this point is my own personal concern. Tourists. Picture the scene. I go over to dublin with a group of my friends aged 20 to 25 for the weekend.I am 26 but a bouncer or member of the bar staff may question my age and ask to see ID. We dont have these cards in britain, nor in many other countries in europe. So what do you do? do you refuse to serve me?? I'm 26 for Gods sake!!
Would it be neccesary for me to take my passport out with me to get into bars for the weekend? This problem would simply drive tourism away from the city, which in turn would lead to the closure of many bars and a hell of a financial smack in the teeth for the Irish government. Yet the problem is very forseeable, do we realise how many young europeans make the trip to dublin for the weekend? If they encounter problems like this they will simply find a new playground, where they are treated as human beings.
Dublin has the finest bars and pubs in the world and perhaps this appetite for booze has led to unwanted social problems. The answer to these is in educating youngsters about the perils and dangers of drinking, not putting hurdles in their way which they can ultimatley clear anyway. Aside from not easing the drink culture in Dublin I have great fears for how tourism will be affected. I hope I am wrong and that there are measures in place to stop the problems young tourists shall face in dublin, but if so what are they and how will they be regulated?
From Kelly: Was just in Dublin for a visit and recall having read an interesting Bio
on Scruffy Murphy, whether factual or not I am unable to find anything other than pubs by the same name on the internet. Could you provide me with a biography of Scruffy. Thank you
From Noreen: Just a quick word to say that i think a lot of the bouncers in Dublin are fantastic. In particular- ***** and ***** from Oliver St John Gogarty's and ***** from Quay's (Angelsea st)
We can't mention their names, don't want them getting harassed - Fred
From Kari: Hey i am wondering where i can see Rugby League...??? Any suggestions?
From Kjetil: Hi, I was wondering if you knew any place that sends any games from the
World Championships in Hockey?
From Audun, Norway:Hello! I am a Norwegian musician, and I am going to Ireland this summer together with another musician friend of mine. We are very interested in the folk music of Donovan. On the internet I found this piece of information:
"Finally, there is another fan club in Ireland. It is a group of six people who all live in the Dublin area and got together six years ago when Don was appearing live there. They meet in The Lord Edward (a pub in the city centre of Dublin) roughly once a month, have a few drinks, and discuss Donovan. So, if you're ever over there pop in, I'm sure you'll be very welcome."
Can you help me to get in touch with these people, or let me know if there are any "Donovan gatherings" during the first part of July? Are you able to tell me where Donovan actually lives, and if it is possible to get in touch with him?
Thanks!
From Julie, Dublin:I would like to inform everyone that 4 Dame Lane changed management and "lost" my booking for my 30th(which was made and confirmed twice since the 4th Feb!) and were fully booked for this weekend so can not accomodate me in any way for my 30th! I asked "And what do you think I should do this at this late stage, when the Game is on and Dublin will be fully booked?" to which I received the reply "I'm sorry, what do you expect me to do about it?" With no sympathy for me what-so-ever (and to add to the growth of grey hairs already!) and a pure lack of professionalism shown to me, I have decided to boycott 4 Dame Lane this Sat night (and I suggest everyone else to follow suit in future!).
From MKM: Hi there. Congrats on a great web site however I feel I need to clarify something that most punters are not aware of. You say that the lounge and bar
staff do not have to get up in the morning? That is incorrect in my
five years in the trade I have mostly done split shifts 9am-2:30pm then
returning at 5:30. Most people do not realise the amount of work that
goes on. There certainly is a lot more to it than providing drinks and
taking money. Also in relation to people staying on past time the law
clearly states that drinking up time is 30 minutes after last orders.
While I enjoy my job I feel people need to understand that we are human
beings also and we do not intend to impose upon their enjoyment but
there are many factors involved in this trade that we must enforce.
Many times we become the buffer for customers dissatisfaction through
no fault of our own. I have witnessed bar staff and security being
unreasonable but for the most part we are doing our best to provide
quality service and to make all customers enjoy coming to our premises.
When you deal with the public as directly as we do we it is important
to consider that we are doing our best to make sure that everyone has a
good evening at our establishment. It is also seems that the positive
feedback is far outweighed by the negative. Please keep this in mind as
we remain your humble servers, who pay the same prices as you do on our
nights off.
I hope you will post this.
Sincerely,
MKM
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