Ireland is a farming country noted for its meat, bacon, poultry and dairy produce. The surrounding sea, inland lakes and rivers offer fresh fish including salmon, trout, lobster, Dublin Bay prawns, oysters (served with
Guinness and wholemeal bread), mussels and periwinkles. Dublin has a wide selection of restaurants and eating places to suit every pocket, as do the other major towns. Table and self-service are both common. The most typical Irish dishes will usually be found in a country restaurant, and include corned beef and carrots, boiled bacon and cabbage and Irish stew. Other local delicacies are
crubeens (pigs’ trotters),
colcannon (a mixture of potatoes and cabbage cooked together), soda bread and a soufflé made with
carrageen (a variety of seaweed). Visitors should note that ‘tea’ is often almost a full meal with sandwiches and cakes.
Pubs, of which Ireland has plenty, are sometimes called ‘lounges’ or ‘bars’ and there is often a worded sign outside the premises rather than the traditional painted boards found in Britain. Pubs and bars have counter service. The measure used in Ireland for spirits is larger than that used in Britain, for example an Irish double is equal to a triple in Britain.
Irish coffee is popular (a glass of strong black coffee, brown sugar and whiskey with cream). Almost any drink is imported but the two most internationally distinctive products are
whiskey (spelt with an ‘e’) and
stout.
Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, is found everywhere and
Murphy’s is almost as widely available. One of the most popular of lighter ales is
Smithwick’s or
Harp Lager, also available everywhere. Irish whiskey has a uniquely characteristic flavor and is matured in a wooden barrel for a minimum of seven years. Amongst the most popular brands are
Jamesons and
John Powers Gold Label, but others include
Hewitts,
Midleton,
Old Bushmills,
Paddy,
Reserve and
Tullamore Dew. Certainly as popular as whiskey is stout which is bottled or served from the tap. Liqueurs such as
Bailey's and
Irish Mist are both made from a base of Irish whiskey.
Licensing hours: Mon-Wed 1030-2330, Thurs-Sat 1030-0030 and Sun 1030-2300.
Legal drinking age: 18, although some bars will insist that patrons are over 21 and carry ID. Children under 18 years must leave establishments by 2100.
Note
Under the ‘Retail Export Scheme’, it is possible to claim VAT back on goods bought in Ireland on leaving the EU. For further information, contact the VAT Administration Branch, Stamping Building, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 (tel: (1) 674 8858; fax: (1) 657 5000; e-mail:
vatinfo@revenue.ie; website:
www.revenue.ie).
Nightlife
Most towns in Ireland have clubs, bars and pubs with live music. It is quite common to find pubs holding
seisun, playing traditional Irish music with traditional instruments. The dancehalls and discos of previous eras have now been replaced with clubs similar to those found throughout the UK and Western Europe. Special events and themed nights often take place at special attractions such as the medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. There is still a good choice of theaters and cinemas.
