First pints day 2, eyes down, look in!!

Only three of us made it down for breakfast (all from the same room), we peeled our tongues off our pillows a bit quicker than the other lads (it’s a state of mind, plus I have kids so am used to being up early). A decent breakfast it is too at the Paramount Hotel. Unlimited fruit juice and tea and coffee top ups (vital after a day on the Guinness) and as much toast as you wish with your full Irish breakfast (No white pudding though!)

Following showers and some uncontrolled sweating all the lads met in reception at 11.30am, left our bags (we were flying back at 9pm) at reception. It was Halloween and appropriately we were making a very passable impression of the living dead. “I know what we need! Hair of the dog!” Wasn’t met with too much argument so off we trailed! The general chat was (between swigs of water) “How many sh1ts you had?” “3 already this morning, black as the ace of spades!” “haha good lad!”

It has become tradition that the first pint of the last day is always in the Brazen Head probably the last 10 lads trip that is where we have chewed down our first pint of the last day. It is the oldest pub in Dublin dating back to 1198. although a bit of a tourist trap (we are tourists after all) but it is well worth a visit. Having said all that we decided a change is as good as a rest and headed off in the opposite direction to try the delights of a few boozers up and down Camden Street. The intention was, we would start at the Bleeding Horse another historic Dublin pub.

It’s a fair old trek up Camden Street to the Bleeding Horse so obviously we had o have a few stop offs and some of the lads needed to get some breakfast (a pint of Guinness). First stop was The Snug Bar on Upper st. Stephens Street (definitely no website). What a little character of a boozer this was. As the name may suggest it is a small pub, very old-fashioned and possibly we may have been the first non Dubliners that have been in there for a long while. It was 11.53am and there were 5 blokes in there, the most Irish people I have ever heard. To be fair they all acknowledged us had a little chat and the Guinness was cracking. One of the blokes went to the doorway for a ciggy, within seconds we were all floating on the fumes of his big spliff as a bloke came in with his son and plastic bag full of, well we don’t know. Not sure i would venture here after dark but what a great start off the lads!

First pints day 2, The Snug bar, some right ‘characters’ in here!

We left the Snug Bar, all feeling a little better for a pint remembering the saying and I quote Bernard “You’re always only a couple of pints away from feeling alright!” So it was out of the Snug bar back to Aungier Street which leads on to Camden Street, Over the road and into The Capitol Lounge, another decent boozer, nothing too outstanding but a cracking pint and the bar man was friendly with the line as we walked in “9 lattes lads?”. Standard day two stuff, lads kept disappearing for trap 2, “Black?” “Aye, was it!” “Good Lad!”.As we were on a mission to hit the Bleeding Horse we stopped for only one knowing there were potentially a lot of stops on the way up. it’s worth a mention that the two rounds in these two pubs were probably the same price as the more trendy city centre boozers.

Our wait for our third pint had to wait a little longer as we had our first refusal (other than late at night when it was possibly understandable), The name of the boozer was J J’s, baring in mind it was not yet 1pm, they don’t serve groups apparently and we had Bails with us who is in the UK Foo’s a well-known tribute band / group so we had no chance. Anyway there are about 1000 pubs in Dublin so on to the next.

Another few hundred yards up the road and we came across the delightful The Swan Bar a proper locals pub.Once the again the locals were great and the barman seemed genuinely interested as to why we were over. I suppose that’s what they call the craic! A nice touch on the bar was a big pot of soup bubbling away, it’s that sort of place. Absolutely spotless and a great pint. These are proper drinkers pubs, if you can’t relax with the lads over a few pints in these boozers then give up drinking!!

Back across the road and in to The Barnard Shaw (no website but the link is to their Facebook page). This is another massive pub when you walk in and the barstaff were very friendly bringing our pints over. This pub has a student feel about it and I think it is a well-known music venue of an evening with DJs, drum & bass (basically we would be too old in the evening!). They did however do some fantastic pizzas which the lads who hadn’t had breakfast got stuck into. Another good beer garden with large screen for the sport. We did get one pizza we didn’t order but the barman was very apologetic and sent the correct one out in no time. 2nd pint starting to loosen a few of the lads up although one or two were still going through the ringer.

From  The Bernard Shaw, were right up the road a little further (now Camden Street) and into Ryans Bar, possibly a little daunting as you walk in but again the landlady called over “What aboutcha lads, what can we get you?”. It’s a very dark pub but again another proper pub, cracking pint and it has a dog. A blood hound (a bit like snoopy we thought) A bit of giggling from the lads as “Spaniels ears were mentioned a lot!!”.  The majority of these pubs you could happily spend the afternoon in for a session but we still hadn’t hit our goal destination.

Over the road again, it was beginning to feel like a game of Frogger! Into Flannerys, I may sound like a scratched record but from the outside you won’t think there is much to this boozer. Through the doors and it is chuffing massive. Three sections inside then through some double door and a massive beers garden with a full outside bar. A decent spot for an afternoon pint but I would imagine it is a young crowd of an evening.

The Bleeding Horse was now in our sites and it was worth the trek out (if it wasn’t for the other half a dozen boozers we went in, it would have been hard work). We weren’t disappointed, what a great pub. It is in the middle of a T junction or more accurately a v junction with windows everywhere perfect for watching the world go by. we had a couple in here and some more food, which after the disastrous stew the day before this restored my faith a perfect end to a great trip. The pub is over a couple of floors and you can get lost going to and coming back from the toilet as I think there is at least three different routes. Of course it has a very imaginative outside area. Great pub, will definitely visit again. Time was ticking on and the minibus was looming.

we set off back vi another pub, of which I have to admit don’t recall too much about although they did bring us a basket of sandwiches for free which was a nice touch. Final pint of the tour was on Dame Street, Brogans of which I think this picture says it all, very weary and time for home!

So we boarded the minibus all in tact, just, leaving once again wanting more, we’ll be back Dublin be warned!