What a craic …
An Irish pub that was dismantled brick-by-brick in Cork and rebuilt in the Austrian capital Vienna has been named Europe’s Best Irish Bar outside of the Emerald Isle, after a seven-day, 3,681 mile research project. The online travel provider, Expedia.co.uk, sent Irish Studies student Che Murphy to 10 European cities to seek out authentic Irish pubs, with “creamy Guinness, poured by Irish staff, who could decorate the head with shamrocks while singing the Irish national anthem”. After nominations from across the continent, Che visited 10 bars and rated them according to the following criteria:
- Authenticity verdict: Was the décor traditional or merely themed?
- Guinness taste test: How well did the black stuff travel around Europe?
- Pint-head challenge: Could the bar staff draw a Shamrock – or anything else?
- National anthem challenge: Could the bar staff sing the Irish national anthem? and
- Having the craic: How genial was the atmosphere?
The winner, Flanagan’s Irish Pub, opened in 1996 when owner Alan Field realised there was no traditional Irish pub in Vienna. However, instead of renovating an existing site, Alan dismantled a traditional pub in Cork, transported and rebuilt it in the Austrian capital; it hasn’t been closed a day since! Murphy said: “Choosing Europe’s Best Irish Bar wasn’t as easy as you might think: any of the bars it would be a great place to spend St Patrick’s Day or any night during a weekend away. But there had to be a winner, and Flanagan’s had the best atmosphere and served the best pint of Guinness I have tasted outside of Ireland!” Dermot Halpin, managing director, Expedia.co.uk commented, “As MD of Expedia it is my responsibility to ensure we give travellers everything they need to create their perfect trip. And being an Irishman, that means my responsibilities include the best place in Europe to get a pint of Guinness on St Patrick’s Day!” The full top 10 is as follows:
- 1. Flanagan’s, Vienna
- 2. Tig Barra, Amsterdam
- 3. Michael Collins, Barcelona
- 4. The Old Emerald Isle, Berlin
- 5. The Toucan, London
- 6. James Joyce, Brussels
- 7. The Shamrock Inn, Copenhagen
- 8. Kitty Flynn’s, Cardiff
- 9. Waxy O’Connor’s, Glasgow
- 10. Caffrey’s, Prague
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad
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