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

The Recollections of Dublin’s Publicans, Barmen and ‘Regulars’

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

3. 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
5. 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
7. Oral Testimony of Publicans and Barmen
9. Oral Testimony of Pub Regulars and Observers