Dublin Pub Life and Lore: An Oral History

by Kevin C. Kearns

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 Table of ContentsIntroduction- History and Evolution of Dublin Public HousesOrigins and Uses of AlcoholA City of Taverns and AlehousesDublin's Colourful Public HousesDrinking Customs of the Social ClassesDisreputable Drinking DensProud and Prosperous PublicansDublin Temperance MovementGovernment Inquiry into Intemperance and the Role of Public HousesOral History and Pub Lore- Dublin Pub Culture and Social LifeThe Pub as a Living Social InstitutionThe Publican's Role and StatusPub Regulars and Their LocalPorters, Apprentices and BarmenPubs as IRA Meeting PlacesWomen on the "Holy Ground"The Pintman and His PintPub Customs and TraditionsPub EntertainmentSinging PubsLiterary PubsNotable Pub CharactersEccentric Publicans and Notorious PubsUnderworld of Shebeens, Kips and SpeakeasiesFamous Barmen's StrikesTransformation and Desecration of Venerable Pubs- Oral Testimony of Publicans and Barmen- Oral Testimony of Pub Regulars and Observers

Genres: History, Nonfiction

454 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[James Slaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book on Dublin pub culture, mostly in the years after World War II, although it does extend before and after that. The first half is a synthesis of all the stories gathered from people that were there and the second half are their stories as told to him, in a great oral tradition way.

[Stephen Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read nearly all the books by Kevin C. Kearns, for research and pleasure. Really enjoyable and fantastic to read the captured voices of the Irish especially old Dublin people.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first section of this book is a comprehensive history of public houses in Dublin. It explains the reasons they developed, how they fit into Irish culture, the experiences of pub owners and pubgoers, and how the pubs and pub culture have changed over time. The rest of the book is chock full of oral histories from publicans, barmen, and pub regulars. The annoying thing is, so much of the oral history was directly quoted in the first section that the book feels really repetitive. Also, because everyone telling these stories is from basically the same era, there is a huge amount of overlap and they make a lot of the same points over and over.

And the font is SO TINY. I actually used a page magnifier for much of this book.

It's definitely an interesting read but I think it would be better in documentary form - it would be great to hear these people tell their stories and you could show the pictures along with it. As a book it's kind of dry.

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Это мы так основательно готовимся к летним каникулам.

[Kathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive but a bit interesting. Great that he got the live accounts before all that generation was gone.