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Is the Irish Pub an endangered species?

Hi Alex, thanks for talking to us.  Since your film The Irish Pub was released—how has...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.09 6 Mar 2014


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Is the Irish Pub an endangered...

Is the Irish Pub an endangered species?

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.09 6 Mar 2014


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Hi Alex, thanks for talking to us.  Since your film The Irish Pub was released—how has life changed for you?

To have a general release in your home country is a massive step forward for us. I think it played in one theatre or another for seven weeks, which isn't bad for a documentary. It's also playing on Aer Lingus [flights] for December and January and will be available soon in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Germany.
 
It has definitely opened doors. It has created opportunities. All of that means nothing however unless you can capitalise on those. I'm hugely grateful to everyone who helped me with this, especially the publicans, who were all insightful, hilarious and brilliant; Element Distribution, who contacted us early; and The Irish Film Board who supported me with completion funding. Most of all, though, I'm grateful to those who went to see the film or who bought it on DVD. Without people getting to see and enjoy the film, what would be the point.

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Why do you think the pub is so engrained in Irish culture?
 
You would possibly have to go back hundreds of years to discover that. One reason I recently read was that river water in Ireland was frequently dirty and contaminated in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries and so a light beer became a safe way to rehydrate without the risk of catching a disease. The alcohol would kill off the bacteria. Apparently, Arthur Guinness' grandfather, William Read, sold home-brewed beer to troops during the Jacobite wars. This theory, in addition to the Irish easy-going personality plus the inclement Irish weather perhaps all resulted in the traditional tavern's rise to prominence. Very soon it became a focal point in Irish communities, not just as a drinking house, but also as a place of business and as a social and cultural hub.

Is the Irish pub an endangered species?
 
Yes and no. I think in cities it will continue to thrive. However, in rural areas, it is certainly endangered. This is in part because of the groceries act, smoking ban, drink-driving laws and the recession. However, I think perhaps the greatest reason is that the current generation of pub-owners has frequently very well-educated children who might not want to take over the family business.

And, as anyone who owns a family business knows, unless you are 110% committed to the business, it will not succeed. Hence, these pubs get sold and the old family traditions and knowledge of local history disappears.

This, to me, is quite sad and that is the reason why I really wanted to film pubs that were in the same family for at least three generations. These pubs are unique to Ireland and around the world. In many respects, they are cultural museums where the owners are the curators.

The Gravediggers in Glasnevin for example is in the same family for seven generations and the old part of the pub has barely changed during that time. There is perhaps not a famous Irish writer, politician or philosopher who has not frequented that pub at one time or another and discussed the matters of the day within its smoke-stained walls. In Ireland we have pubs in the same family that have not changed since the time of Abraham Lincoln.

For good or bad, how many countries can boast of such places where you can visit and soak up the history and atmosphere over the mollifying influences of a creamy pint. In this film, there are 23 pubs featured all over Ireland. Seldom will you get an opportunity to do such an informative pub-crawl in 75 minutes. Caveat emptor: It'll make you thirsty.
 
With this behind you, what are you working on next?
 
Next up is a documentary about people in Ireland who are over 100 years old. If anyone knows anyone over 100, please let me know at info@atomfilms.ie. I really want to talk to them and interview them. We are also working on a comedy TV series set in Dublin and a conspiracy thriller set in Cambridge and London.

This article originally appeared in Newstalk Magazine for iPad - available now for free from the Apple app store.


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