The REAL Irish pub experience!

Am in Ireland, Dublin specifically, visiting my friend MM. I've only met her mother in the past but last night I met her entire family in the pub. Not just any pub but "their" pub. Are they like any stereotypical family whose pub is at the end of their street? Nawwwwtttttt.....

This is a pub in the middle of Dublin, kind of central for most of the family. It is on a side street in an office area, or at least I think it was an office area, because when we went there after 6 pm, nothing in the area seemed open.

We were supposed to meet at 8 so we showed up about 8:15ish and we were first there. Friday night at the pub..... There are a few tables and more room to stand. It is VERY loud and very crowded. This pub, according to MM, is a real pub. There is NO singing and no music so very, very loud from all the people talking.

Since the tables were taken when we got there, MM, Roisin, my mom and I stood in the middle of an area between four tables and spread up a bit so we took up lots of room. Roisin went to the bar and came back with a round of drinks. Apparently you stand at the bar with money in your hand until you catch the bar man's eye. Since Roisin is 6 feet tall (and wearing heels) and stunning looking, she caught his eye fairly quickly.

So you stand there, try and talk and keep your eyes open for someone to leave a table. People who are not together share tables, so when two people left from the edge of a six person table, we jumped in there and started taking up space. When Tomas and Orla arrived, we took up a bit more space. Now the table was in the corner and the hangers on were getting squished into the corner by our new arrivals. Finally they left and we had won! The corner table to hold all of us was free!

The noise level dropped one or two decibels - just enough so that now I could hear the family but if they weren't looking at me when they were talking I had no idea what they were saying. The fact that they all have accents didn't help much.... I'm a bit disappointed that no one yet has commented on my accent and asked where I am from....today's another day, so fingers crossed!

This pub does not serve food, so you can't show up for dinner and drinks, just drinks. That's why people roll out of the pub at closing time and into the newest chippy. They did sell crisps (potato chips). This pub had Hunky Dory brand name - and they were pretty hunky dory....

People in the pub seem to have no problem standing while they drink. People stood the entire three plus hours they were there. Even when tables opened up, people didn't sit down. The crush of people standing never got less, the standing part was crowded all night.

If you'd like to go to a real Irish pub, not one set up for tourists and need someone to go with, I'm pretty sure I can rent this family (below) out to you for the authentic experience....might cost you a round or two and a few bag of crisps though!