Slainte !
Did I mention that I am Irish? You hadn't guessed from my ability to use many words to descibe small stories? Or from my ability to retell a story so far removed from its original facts that even those who were there at the time don't recognise it? Or just my general inability to go without talking for more than 30 seconds at a time even when sleeping?
Being Irish I am genetically programmed to think that the greatest drink in the world is Guinness. A whole meal in a pint glass. Did you know that in the early days of the Guinness brewery they provided a bottle of Guinness for each patient in the Dublin hospitals. This was at the time of the "Guinness is good for you" advertising.
My Grandad Joe Sheeran was the proud owner of Sheerans Bar in Longford. My Dad Joe grew up in the house above the Pub and spent many evenings down in the cellar washing bottles ready to re-fill with Guinness and serve to the next nights customers (a story heard many times when we were kids!) The family pub had labels provided by Guinness with "Sheeran" on them. My Dad has often said he would give anything to get his hand on one of these old Sheeran labels now. It would be my dream to be able to get one for him, I have no idea if any still exist.
The point of this blog is this:
Today is the 25th of September 2009.
On this day in 1759 the company's founder,
Arthur Guinness,
decided to sign a 9000 year lease for a brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin.
Clever Man!
Slainte!
My dream is to one day visit Ireland. The beauty of it takes my breath away with every photo I see...I long to walk along some of those ancient paths. And of course, have a Guinness in an authentic pub!! :)
Ah, but there's the rub. Your dad and granddad are Irish, too. They tell great stories and tall tales. There was no ownership of the pub but only space taken up on a particular chair.
In case you can't tell, there's some Irish blood in this American. A lot of it.
I, too, am Irish!! Can't say I love guinness tho... we have a guinness sign in our basement... GUINNESS FOR STRENGTH! I have visited Ireland and loved the pubs especially. The story telling that went on night after night... I learned so much sitting on a bar stool!
Thanks for visiting my blog. I see I might learn a lot of culture by visiting here. Great posts!
Brandie
My husband loves this beer, he mixes it with woodchuck draft cider pear flavor.