news&views Winter 2022 | Page 24

Travel

Joyce Zilinski | Article and Photos

Irish Pubs — Music , Stories , History , and Fun

“ Ireland is a country of words . Spoken , written , or sung , the Irish are famously verbose and social people known for their warmth , hospitality , and generosity . The Irish live in the spirit of togetherness , sharing , and interaction .” ( Taken from a post in the Waterford Crystal showroom ).
I came upon this statement while browsing the barware collection at a well-known crystal shop in Cork . It caught my eye , as it perfectly summed up our experience touring around this beautiful green island and seemed especially applicable at the pubs . Irish pubs are famous for their lively , fun-filled atmosphere , but we discovered they are so much more . Irish pubs are really a community hub — a place to gather to celebrate , to grieve , to solve problems , to sing , and to dance ( at least before COVID-19 !). But what I did not expect was to get so many history lessons in the pubs . Here are a few of my favourites .
The King ’ s Head — This piece of living history is an active pub and bistro situated on a main street in Galway . The building dates back to the thirteenth century and a turf-burning fireplace from the sixteenth century welcomes you . Intriguing tales of who wielded the axe that beheaded King Charles I are associated with the King ’ s Head pub . If you happen to visit Galway , a stop for their craft beer aptly named “ Blood Red Ale ” is a must .
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