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
5 Reviews
it made me want to go out and have a pint... Which I did.
juliankennedy2321 April 2019
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.
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.
Beautiful, poignant, nostalgic. I recommend.
gerry-whelan-854-51667726 November 2013
A fantastically crafted documentary, that makes you smile from ear to ear and at the same time pull on your heart strings with its sheer authenticity and wonderfully unique characters. Some might argue that the film does not explore the alcoholic down-side of the Irish pub or indeed Irish culture. I think this would be slightly missing the point. The film is an exploration of personality, tradition and character and how we are losing these unique characteristics to generic brands, sameness and franchised retail shops without a soul. This lends an instictive poignancy to the film as we sub-consciously become nostalgic about something that is not lost yet, but is something that we are losing.
There are also moments of sadness in the film where one can get the impression that all is not sewwt and rosy with the customers. You do get a sense of pain and loneliness but the film doesn't need to explain this and shouldn't. This is where the film comes into its own. Cannot recommend this enough!
There are also moments of sadness in the film where one can get the impression that all is not sewwt and rosy with the customers. You do get a sense of pain and loneliness but the film doesn't need to explain this and shouldn't. This is where the film comes into its own. Cannot recommend this enough!
Beautiful documentary
berganto26 July 2016
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!
An endearing documentary laden with nostalgia.
adriangj29 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
The Irish Pub is packed with charm. Whether it be scenic pictures of the Irish countryside, quirky publicans or comforting songs, it is difficult to not be captured by this documentary. The spotlight is upon several pubs throughout Ireland that share a common thread of tradition when pubs were kept in the family for generations. Stories are shared from centuries past which offer to the viewer a direct link to a time and place that would otherwise remain undiscovered.
Each pub has a unique story of circumstance, owner and patron. There is a lot of weight to the history of each pub and the film does fine work of communicating this. Most of the entertainment comes from the patrons who are equally as funny as they are endearing. The accents, clothing and pub decor all come together to present a fascinating picture. Subtitles may be required for certain parts!
Each pub has a unique story of circumstance, owner and patron. There is a lot of weight to the history of each pub and the film does fine work of communicating this. Most of the entertainment comes from the patrons who are equally as funny as they are endearing. The accents, clothing and pub decor all come together to present a fascinating picture. Subtitles may be required for certain parts!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
