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Countries, Culture, Deals, Food & Wine, Ireland

If Ireland did boozy St Patrick’s Day breakfasts

1st March 20261st March 2026 funtime65

If Ireland did boozy St Paddy’s Day breakfasts… well, they do, and the Ruby Molly has promised to get the party started early.

So early, in fact, that they’re starting the night before on March 16, with what they’re billing a Pre-Parade celebration.

The action gets going with an hour of free welcome drinks between 4pm and 5pm and a Dublin feast of food.

Featuring those Irish classics Guinness, Jameson whiskey and, er William Grant.

See they do cater for their diaspora from Scotland.

While it wouldn’t be Dublin if there wasn’t a singalong.

And the Ruby Molly has Jerry Miles to entertain you while you scoff your specially curated menu inspired by Irish classics.

Tour de force

You’ll be perfectly situated for the Dublin Grand Parade, just ten minutes from the hub that is Temple Bar.

And the Guinness Storehouse within strolling distance for the best panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar, and best pint of plain.

Although family loyalties will always mean we point in the direction of the Liffeyside institution that is the Workshop bistro bar, next to the Tara Street Dart (or train) station.

While if you’re wanting some culture, or just get away from the crowds for a breather.

Then Trinity College and its Book of Kells and the National Gallery are havens of peace.

Of course, it’s no coincidence that the Ruby group dedicated their hotel to arguably Dublin’s most famous citizen, one Molly Malone.

Molly’s Dublin

As its location in Oxmanstown on the north of the river is solid market trading land.

Where you’d not be surprised to find Mrs Brown or her boys.

Once the site of an abbey, the rediscovery of parts of its vault in the 1880s, 7 feet under the street, adds to the mystical allure surrounding the hotel.

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant covered market of 1892, Ruby Molly channels former market trader Anna Lawlor’s story.

A place where farmers sold their fresh produce.

Including the much-coveted strawberries that adorned the tables of Dublin’s finest hotels.

And well-endowed Dublin lasses sold their cockles and mussels, alive-oh.

Rates from €345 (16–18 March). Images and further details available on request.

Countries, Food & Wine, Ireland, Music

How to be a Paddy on St Patrick’s Day

17th March 202417th March 2024 funtime65

And as Daddy’s Little Girl’s Scots beau gets a first burst of Dublin life here’s for the rest of you… how to be a Paddy on St Patrick’s Day.

Well, the first thing is to wear green.

And this is where it gets fun, you can pinch someone who doesn’t wear green.

And they can pinch you back!

Of course, you can go full Paddy and dress up as St Patrick in a big flowing cassock and mitre.

And accessorise with snakes, the types he is reputed to have driven out of Ireland.

For every St Patrick there is, of course, a million leprechauns.

Now you’ll need a big felt hat with shamrocks, a ginger beard and a ‘Kiss Me, I’m Irish’ tie.

Sláinte all

Now, onto the eating and drinking.

The time was in Catholic Ireland that St Patrick’s Day was the one day during your 40-day Lenten fast.

That you could break that fast and hit the gargle.

Of course in these less churchy days few give up the ales all 40 days.

So today is just an invitation to partake more.

And it must be Guinness with a shamrock drawn on the foam.

Party on

While there’s a nod to the past in eating corned beef, bacon and cabbage.

Although coddle, a sausage, rashers and veg stew is more Dublin

Now the Irish are in the middle of their week of the year.

And are extending their Cheltenham Festival festivities and Six Nations rugby party a further day.

None of which is lost on the hostelries or drinks bands around Ireland.

And I’m reminded here of the Arthur’s Day experiment from 2009-2013 by Diageo.

When on our annual pilgrimage up to my Mum’s old homestead of Brockagh, Co. Donegal, we lunched in her old bar, the Ramblers.

And I asked the owner Con what the regular at the bar would be doing to mark that day.

And wiping the foam off his mouth, he smiled back: ‘Same as every other day.’

Of course, like all national days there is an amplification of traditional music.

Crazy World

But if you want some insider knowledge on how to be a Paddy on St Patrick’s Day then do like the locals.

And get into a bar where there will deffo be a pub singer singing Aslan’s Crazy World.

And be part of the Paddy’s Day party… it’s all right, it’s all right.

Countries, Food & Wine, Ireland

Guinness Dublin’s green and white Christmas

22nd November 202322nd November 2023 funtime65

Even in the home of the black stuff they’re dreaming of Guinness Dublin’s green and white Christmas.

You’ll see I’ve Christmas cribbed from Guinness’s enduring festive advertising and am happy to do so.

And, of course, we put caressing a pint (or gargle, my collective noun) of plain at the centre of our Christmas carousing.

We learned to in, of all places at the Ri Ra Irish bar in Las Vegas.

Now the best place to sup your Guinness is Ireland and while we all have our fave bars there’s only one Guinness Storehouse.

Where you get the panoramic view from their Gravity bar, the top floor of their seven storeys.

But don’t take my word for it (well do) but American Presidents (and their governor pals) and British royalty have all sipped the stout.

Kodaline high hopes

Some, of course, going the full hog to don a white foam moustache.

This year Guinness Storehouse in the capital’s Liberties district is pushing its already excellent green credentials.

By dressing up the Christmas tree with 1759 lights, soundscaped decorations and a festive menu of Irish produce.

The recently awarded Leading Tourist Attraction in Europe has collaborated with multi-media talents, Farouk Alao, Sorcha O’Higgins and Ger Clancy, as well as Jason Boland (Kodaline), who has created an original piece of music.

Sorcha’s artwork represents the Guinness Storehouse through the ages – an industrial past, an iconic present, and a technicolour future.

While Ger Clancy’s take on the iconic St James’s Gates makes for the perfect backdrop to festive photos this season.

Tunnel of love

Friends in high places: With former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe

This year, visitors can interact with a cinematic experience that uses cutting edge technology to breathe new life into stories and photography from the Guinness Archives.

Curated by Nigerian Irish multi-disciplinary artist Farouk, each scene uses motion technology to invite visitors to explore, capture and share moments of festive celebration with friends and family during their tour.

One of the first visual installations that consumers will see is the dramatic tunnel, which sits beneath the Guinness Storehouse Christmas tree featuring those 1759 lights as a nod to the year Guinness began.

And reframes the 9,000-year lease signed by Arthur Guinness.

Guinness with it all

There are seasonal experiences to marvel at and excite the senses behind St. James’s Gate this Christmas.

A giant bauble display fills the building, perfect for capturing a story for Instagram, while pop-up live entertainment during the holidays will help visitors create special memories.

Of course the stout is at the centre of everything in the Storehouse.

So enjoy the best artisan producers like Kish Fish and Medialuna, Irish cheese producers, the spiced beef sandwich, and Mulled Guinness and Guinness smoked salmon.

Meaning you can take a taste of the Guinness Storehouse from our home to yours this Christmas.

Guests can also upgrade to the STOUTie or Academy experiences, both available as optional extras when booking on the Guinness Storehouse website for the ultimate day out in Dublin over the festive break.

Christmas at the Guinness Storehouse is included in each experience ticket.

Make a date

The law of Gravity: At the top of the Storehouse

EXPERIENCE DATES: Wednesday November 22^nd – Friday 5^th January

OPENS: 10am

PRICES: Start from €24 per adult