Dublin Pub Life and Lore – An Oral History of Dublin's Traditional Irish Pubs

The Recollections of Dublin's Publicans, Barmen and 'Regulars'

Kevin C. Kearns

• Publisher: Gill Books
• Year: 1996
• ISBN:
  9780717164714
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Historia social

Dublin is renowned for its amazing profusion of pubs and for its exuberant pub culture. In Dublin Pub Life and Lore, Professor Kevin Kearns examines the history of this phenomenon by speaking to old publicans, barmen and regular customers, relating the story of Dublin pubs and their patrons in an engaging and entertaining fashion. Traditionally in Ireland, the public house or 'pub' was the centre of a community's social life and a social institution ranking second in importance only to the parish church. Pubs ranged from dusky watering holes frequented by labourers, dockers and shawlies to elegant Victorian gin palaces where the gentry and literati gathered. Along the Dublin quays there were dives filled with scoundrels, prostitutes and misfits of every sort. Following the success of his bestselling classic Dublin Tenement Life, Kevin Kearns has researched and created a wonderful oral historical chronicle of Dublin's pub life. Based on conversations with old publicans, pub 'regulars' and long-serving barmen, Dublin Pub Life and Lore captures the folklore, customs, characters and wit of the traditional Dublin public house.

Dublin Pub Life and Lore: Table of Contents

Introduction

• History and Evolution of Dublin Public Houses
  Origins and Uses of Alcohol
  A City of Taverns and Alehouses
  Dublin's Colourful Public Houses
  Drinking Customs of the Social Classes
  Disreputable Drinking Dens
  Proud and Prosperous Publicans
  Dublin Temperance Movement
  Government Inquiry into Intemperance and the Role of Public Houses
  Oral History and Pub Lore
• Dublin Pub Culture and Social Life
  The Pub as a Living Social Institution
  The Publican's Role and Status
  Pub Regulars and Their Local
  Porters, Apprentices and Barmen
  Pubs as IRA Meeting Places
  Women on the "Holy Ground"
  The Pintman and His Pint
  Pub Customs and Traditions
  Pub Entertainment
  Singing Pubs
  Literary Pubs
  Notable Pub Characters
  Eccentric Publicans and Notorious Pubs
  Underworld of Shebeens, Kips and Speakeasies
  Famous Barmen's Strikes
  Transformation and Desecration of Venerable Pubs
• Oral Testimony of Publicans and Barmen
• Oral Testimony of Pub Regulars and Observers

Table of contents

• Cover 
• Title Page
• Dedication
• Pub Crawl
• Epigraphs
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: History and Evolution of Dublin Public Houses
• Chapter 2: Dublin Pub Culture and Social Life
• Chapter 3: Oral Testimony of Publicans and Barmen
• Chapter 4: Oral Testimony of Pub Regulars and Observers
• Appendix
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Acknowledgments
• Copyright
• About the Author
• About Gill & Macmillan