Flashmob na bhFiann
A carpeted cavernous space full of pint drinkers, men and women, most in their 40s or 50s. My local pub in Dublin is a typical big suburban Dublin pub.
There’s nothing Victorian, Edwardian, or Georgian about it (nobody ever says Regency). So it’s not the Irish Pub you’re going to see reproduced in Hong Kong, Paris, or North America.
The music is standard fare, arms and hips swinging to covers of Sweet Caroline and Wonderwall half the time. And the other half, like last night, it’s traditional. Over-miked and played to non-existant saluting fists, but traditional nonetheless.
Guitar, flute, and bodhrán, the 3 lads were like a loud version of the Furey Brothers without a banjo. The Lonesome Boatman, that sort of thing. But it’s the end that catches me out every time. I always forget we do this.
It was a bit of jaunty version of Amhrán na bhFiann, probably to loosen the pints from our hands.
Give or take the odd gentle sway of inebriation, everybody was standing up motionless. And as I watched the foreign lounge girls continue to busy themselves in their slaloms between non-drinking living statues, I couldn’t help but think that our national anthem was the original flashmob.
More on the Drink:
• A Bad Pint
• The History of the Irish Pub
• Pub Crawl Memories
• A Table in a Prague Tavern
• Christmas: A Drinking Story
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
Do they play the National Anthem at the end of the music? I happened to be in Tralee once when the Anthem was playing, only I didn’t know it was the National Anthem so I didn’t stand. I was teased to no end but it was all meant in good fun I’m sure. I’ll remember next time. I’d love a pint of Guinness right now along with some good Irish music from the locals. Guinness here is not the same.
Do they do that a lot in Irish pubs?
“Chasing Connieee arooound the Greeeeeeeen”
I’ve only experienced when there’s live music it’s gas to see people try and figure out the tune.
“Wait…I know this one…..what are the words again?”
Roxanne - If they do, then it’s at the end. I think in a pub the etiquette, especially for tourists, is fairly liberal. If you’re at a sporting event look at the flag, if you’re at a drinking event look sober.
PCB - Nowhere near as much as they used to. It used to be all the time, back when we were in a different recession. It’s still happens a fair bit in certain areas - dare I say it but those that are typically more conservatively Irish and not too wealthy.
Devin - That’s sacrilege you know, chasing Conieee! I could be wrong but I’m sure I’ve seen it happen plenty of times from DJs as well as on live music occasions. Watching people stumble into recognition can be very funny.
I hate it.
I hate that abuse of our national anthem by musicians, and I never stand up for it in a pub. Never.
I will not let some gobshite with a banjo make me stand up so he can get home earlier.
I hate that.