The Irish Pub

The Irish Pub (2013): 6 out of 10: The Irish Pub is a documentary about... wait for it... Irish Pubs.

What is in the documentary exactly? Director Alex Fegan went into a score or so of Irish pubs, spent the day enjoying a pint or two, and did interviews with the owners (if available) and the patrons.

And that is about it. I mean there are worse ways to spend an hour and a half than watching people drinking Guinness, but there isn't anything else to this film. It would be like if on Kitchen Nightmares Ramsey just visited the restaurants, ate the food without comment and then chatted up the waitress.

Look I was born in Ireland and spent a fair amount of time at Irish daycare in my youth. I like pubs, a lot. The Irish Pub is a pretty nice collection of pubs with happy Irish people in them. (Well drunk at least). There, unfortunately, seemed a lot of unanswered questions and missing information in the hagiography.

A couple of quick notes. Not updating your decor since 1972 does not make you traditional it makes you cheap.

Second note the declining business in pubs in rural areas is due partially to the strict drink driving laws. This claim is not idle speculation. Per The Guardian, a county council in south-west Ireland has voted to back a motion allowing for people living in isolated areas to drink and drive. The motion was passed by Kerry county council on Monday by five votes to three, with the remainder of the councilors either absent or abstaining. It supports the creation of a permit that will allow rural drinkers to drive after having "two or three drinks." It was tabled by the independent councilor Danny Healy-Rae, who has claimed it would help prevent depression and suicide in the county.

The sponsor of the bill was a pub owner himself who saw the devastating effect the drink driving (Drunk driving to our American cousins) laws have had on pubs.

Even though this law passed the same year this documentary came out nothing is mentioned, even as an aside regarding this issue. In reality, throughout the film, nothing at all is said about much of anything. People talk about how tough times can get, the meaning of some decor hanging on the wall, how they inherited the pub, and how it is a dying tradition. There is no analysis, outside commentary, or even information regarding pubs and their relation to rural Ireland.

On the plus side some beautiful pictures, some very nice stories. It is a peaceful film. And it made me want to go out and have a pint... Which I did.

I have no idea why this documentary have been made, but if their purpose was praising Irish pubs and culture, it is a little bit local blessing, instead of making it known by strangers.

And so sorry to say that, all the characters and people, including some owners and most old town people, it really feels like a freak show. I specially laughed hard, when that bar owner said that he is a people man, he can make people speak. Dude, you don't have that feature unfortunately, sorry.

I mean, I have been in Ireland and had great memories in pubs and met with locals etc, but this would be the last thing if I would like to define and tell my Dublin pub experience.

Sorry.

Wow - we've just watched "The Irish Pub" on Amazon Prime. You've got to watch it. Wonderfully nostalgic. A pub in Bundoran (where my dad is from and we used to visit every summer holidays from england) - Brennans - is one of the pubs filmed. Makes me want to go to Ireland right now. Quite poignant too - how many of these pubs will survive Covid-19..... What a fantastic film xx

This is an okay documentary...but a really good one if you are planning a trip to Ireland. After all, the entire documentary shows various pubs in the country and the owners talking about their lives and customers. It's a bit on the dull side for some...but a great way to whet your appetite to visit them.

The main thrust of the film is tradition. Again and again, the pub owners seem proud that their businesses have changed very little over the years...proud to have no TVs, proud that the bars are not made of formica or metal and proud of their customers who come in for a pint and a bit of conversation.

So is this film going to change your life? No...not in the least. But it's a pleasant look at pub life and it's worth seeing. My only other comment is to be sure to turn on the closed captions as some of the accents are a bit thick and it should help you to fully understand the interviews.

I travel a lot abroad with business and have visited irish bars far and wide, so I really enjoyed this documentary when it was released. I've gifted it to some international friends and it is really a joy to watch. It's the most honest and charming representation of the people and places that are the guardians of what is sadly a dying institution. Many irish pubs have none of the character and hospitality featured in this movie but a little bit of research in advance will serve any visitor to Ireland well. The characters and stories depicted are unique but yet easily recognisable if you've ever visited an irish pub outside of Temple Bar in Dublin. Can't recommend it enough, may be difficult for non-irish viewers to understand some of the accents but if you want to see the real, native facets and ingredients that make up the real Irish Pub experience do yourself a favour and enjoy this lovely selection of stories and pubs.. The documentary maker has really excelled here, waiting to see his Older than Ireland documentary next!