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Have Ye No Homes To Go To?: The History of the Irish Pub
The pub has been at the centre of Irish life for centuries. It has played many roles: funeral home, restaurant, grocery shop, music venue, job centre and meeting place for everyone from poets to revolutionaries. Often plain and unpretentious, it is a neutral ground, a leveller – a home away from home.
From the feasts of high kings, through the heady gang-ruled pubs of nineteenth-century New York, right up to the gay bars and superpubs of today, this is an entertaining journey through the evolution of the Irish pub. Our ‘locals’ have become a global phenomenon: the export of the Irish pub, its significance to emigrants and its portrayal in cinema, television and literature are engagingly explored.
The story of the Irish pub is the story of Ireland itself.
From the feasts of high kings, through the heady gang-ruled pubs of nineteenth-century New York, right up to the gay bars and superpubs of today, this is an entertaining journey through the evolution of the Irish pub. Our ‘locals’ have become a global phenomenon: the export of the Irish pub, its significance to emigrants and its portrayal in cinema, television and literature are engagingly explored.
The story of the Irish pub is the story of Ireland itself.
298 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 15, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book and it increasingly felt that I wasn't reading a 'historical study' of Irish pubs but was sitting in a pub with a very interesting bloke named Kevin Martin who was telling me loads of fascinating stuff about Irish pubs.
Martin explores the development and role of the Irish pub from the 6th century to the current day (2015). He talks about the role the Irish pub has played in society not just in Ireland but around the world, and particularly how important it is in local communities and to emigrant Irish abroad. He goes from the very earliest 'brewers' and taverns through spirit grocers to the arrival of superpubs and cocktail bars. I found every single chapter interesting, and liked how Martin used the history of the Irish pub to explore other topics - Irish history in general, the attitude towards and treatment of the Irish abroad and how Irish society (and society in general) has changed over the years, particularly in regard to drinking culture.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Irish history, social history, or pubs, and to anyone who just enjoys well-written, interesting non-fiction of any kind.
Martin explores the development and role of the Irish pub from the 6th century to the current day (2015). He talks about the role the Irish pub has played in society not just in Ireland but around the world, and particularly how important it is in local communities and to emigrant Irish abroad. He goes from the very earliest 'brewers' and taverns through spirit grocers to the arrival of superpubs and cocktail bars. I found every single chapter interesting, and liked how Martin used the history of the Irish pub to explore other topics - Irish history in general, the attitude towards and treatment of the Irish abroad and how Irish society (and society in general) has changed over the years, particularly in regard to drinking culture.
I'd recommend this to anyone interested in Irish history, social history, or pubs, and to anyone who just enjoys well-written, interesting non-fiction of any kind.
November 5, 2016
A great book about the pub. Written by an Irishman. Who could ask for more?
I really enjoyed it. It's ideal pub reading in that it's full of amusing stories and trivia.
Enjoy it with a beer or buy it for that person in your life who's impossible to buy for!
I really enjoyed it. It's ideal pub reading in that it's full of amusing stories and trivia.
Enjoy it with a beer or buy it for that person in your life who's impossible to buy for!
March 15, 2021
I expected a light romp around Ireland, a bit of history, plenty of anecdotes. However, Martin's book is much more than this. Anecdotes and stories aplenty for sure but also an in-depth look at the history of the role of the Irish pub. He does this by trawling and quoting previous works illustrating how alcohol, and the establishments where it is provided and how they have shaped Irish culture and society. There are plenty of references to relevant legislation (and proposed legislation) and the extent to which this changed the drinking landscape; not in the slightest in many instances.
I was surprised to find out that whiskey, not stout, was the original 'poison' of the Irish. This has been cited by many as the source of the negative reputation gained by Irish drinkers in earlier times as compared perhaps to beer drinking communities. Certainly the emigrants to the USA in the 19th century lived up to their aggressive reputation (with the GAA jersey-wearing lads of the modern era seemingly doing little to restore that reputation.)
The present-day reduction in numbers of public houses is put into context by the historical over supply. Each city, town and village had a proliferation of premises, both legal and illegal, which encouraged long hours, cheap prices and inferior product. The spirit grocer evolved to provide women with a socially acceptable place to drink.
The author describes in some depth the 'export' of the Irish pub. At first this was bars catering to the large numbers of working-class Irish rocking up in England and the United States in the 19th century. In more recent times the 'Irish pub' has become a manufactured product offering Guinness, food, entertainment and a pastiche of the convivial establishment to supposedly be found in the 'ould country'.
An excellent book, both as an entertainment but also as a valuable compendium for anyone studying this aspect of Irish societal history.
I was surprised to find out that whiskey, not stout, was the original 'poison' of the Irish. This has been cited by many as the source of the negative reputation gained by Irish drinkers in earlier times as compared perhaps to beer drinking communities. Certainly the emigrants to the USA in the 19th century lived up to their aggressive reputation (with the GAA jersey-wearing lads of the modern era seemingly doing little to restore that reputation.)
The present-day reduction in numbers of public houses is put into context by the historical over supply. Each city, town and village had a proliferation of premises, both legal and illegal, which encouraged long hours, cheap prices and inferior product. The spirit grocer evolved to provide women with a socially acceptable place to drink.
The author describes in some depth the 'export' of the Irish pub. At first this was bars catering to the large numbers of working-class Irish rocking up in England and the United States in the 19th century. In more recent times the 'Irish pub' has become a manufactured product offering Guinness, food, entertainment and a pastiche of the convivial establishment to supposedly be found in the 'ould country'.
An excellent book, both as an entertainment but also as a valuable compendium for anyone studying this aspect of Irish societal history.
February 11, 2018
Interesting history of the Irish pub, with focus on 19th to 20th centuries. Some sad stories, like the bachelor farmers whose only reprieve from loneliness was the "local", and "McAlpines fusiliers" falling into alcoholic homesickness. Would have been interested in more about writers and political plotters in pubs, and also about current trends like microbreweries.
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June 21, 2020DNF; might restart when I'm in the mood for a factual history. Expected more humor, based on the title.
August 3, 2021
Enjoyable and well researched overview of Irish drinking habits. Not overly academic, but not silly or flippant either. Worthy page turner...
September 17, 2016
Fantastic achievement.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews