Dublin, being a city where literary creation and drinking are inextricably intertwined, has a splendid device called The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl (Tel: (01) 454 0228) departing – 7.30pm nightly Easter – October 31st. Noon Sundays all year and 7.30pm Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in Winter – from The Duke, 8/9 Duke Street, just up the street from the famous Bailey in Duke Street. Pubs chosen vary but most tours include some or all of the following: Mulligan’s, on Poolbeg St., the Palace Bar on Fleet St, McDaid’s on Harry St., Neary’s on Chatham St, The Norseman on Eustace St., The Long Hall on George’s St. or O’Neill’s on Suffolk St. and The Old Stand, Davy Bryne's. The Musical Pub Crawl, (Tel: 01 478 0191) – Starts at Oliver St. John Gogarty’s Temple Bar with the services of professional musicians (small charge). Every night at 7.30pm (except Fri). From May 2nd – Oct 26th.

However, you may prefer to arrange your own. Certainly no visitor can have the true Dublin experience without a walking tour which includes dropping into one or two traditional pubs. These should have snugs, enclosing tables partitioned off for privacy. Back in 1600, one in five houses in the city sold liquor.

The quality of Guinness is world renowned and it is indeed at its very best, draught, drunk from a pint glass filled slowly till its black richness has been topped off with a creamy head poured by an experienced Dublin barman. The angle at which the glass is held in relation to the stream of Guinness, the speed of the pour, the time given for the pint to settle, the moment chosen for the top off – these are not matters of slight importance.

Irish Whiskey, spelt with an ‘e’, thrice distilled, is another essential
Irish experience.