If you walked into any Dublin Local back in the day, these are the type of Locals you most likely would sit listening to or studying their little quirkes until it came time for last orders, or the bane of the drinking man that was known as the Holy Hour . There were times when a pubs popularity in an area was judged by whether the Publican done the Holy hour..they were the days when the pubs were obliged to close for an hour or two during weeks days,it was normally between 2.30-3.30 during the week, and 2.0-4.0pm on Sundays..think the reason behind weekday closing was to make sure the men went back to work after their liquid lunch (thats what I was told years ago) the times also varied in Different parts of the City and r county. Many pubs ignored the law for years,some got away with it especially if they had a Garda in the family, or the Gardai used it while off duty As for the ordinary man trying to escape the Missus and a room full of screaming kids, the Publican that risked the fine for permitting the Holy hour abuse was your best pal, he would allow a stock-up which meant ordering a few pints in front of you to tide you over until the clock struck 4,his attitude to the law would permit you to sat there drinking piss and talking shite, and as long as the Garda didnt show his face the chosen few were happy and the Publicans till was full. the Worse case scenario when they did knock on the windows and doors would see panic as the Locals not wanting a fine tried to swallow 2-3 pints of the black stuff, before the flustered Publican eventually let them in and tried to explain what he was doing with a packed Bar full of half pissed customers when they should have been home chewing on the Cabbage and Bacon. It would be comical, the Garda Sgt opening the door of the small toilet only to find 8 -9 men who all happened to have to drain the spuds at the same time. Another sight would be having 3-4 lounge staff collecting glass and sweeping the floor..it turned out that ften there was more staff on the premises than customers.?? I once had the experience of ending up in the back of a Garda car for giving them my name As Gaelige ..They didnt mind that but when I wasnt quick enough in rendering my address in my native tongue they knew I was taking the P and arrested me...some of those Country Garda Sargeants had No sense of humour at all at all.! (Think the Holy hour was abolished around 1999..im open to correction, Hiccup )
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 13:22:23 +0000
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