The Irish Pub - by Moonyoung Hong & Perry Share (Hardcover)

About the Book

Dive into the captivating journey of Irish pubs from humble 17th-century taverns to today's global phenomena. This comprehensive study offers a unique exploration of their cultural impact, evolution, and future - a must-read for all history and culture enthusiasts.

Book Synopsis

When and how was the Irish pub invented? Or indeed the 'Irish pub' - now to be found in thousands of places across the world. How has the pub evolved to become a global symbol of Irishness and how has it come to occupy a central position in our drama, poetry, novels, art and design? Does the pub remain a crucial place in the Irish community, or has it been usurped by the coffee shop and the gym? Does this matter? Often labelled an institution 'in crisis', what indeed does the future hold for the Irish pub in Ireland and internationally? This is the first book-length academic study of this celebrated institution. Contributors from across history, design, literary studies and the social sciences interrogate the many ways the Irish pub has been invented and reinvented over the centuries. It offers hidden histories, inside stories, new perspectives and perceptive analyses. From Dublin's Long Hall to Oliver's Place in Lapland, it draws on the experiences of hundreds of Irish pubs, both celebrated and obscure, to provide a complex picture of this global phenomenon. As ever in its history, the Irish pub is changing and evolving. This fascinating and engaging volume will inspire some concerns, and some hope, about its future trajectory and place in the world.

Review Quotes

We need more writing like this, treating the Irish pub as the vital cultural institution it is. Pubs play a huge role in Irish life, yet there's still a lack of serious study to reflect that. The Irish Pub beautifully gives pubs the recognition they deserve and goes some way to place pubs on the cultural pedestal they have earned.--Ali Dunworth, author of A compendium of Irish pints

The Irish Pub is declining sharply at home even as it sweeps the rest of the world. Yet it retains its classless allure, like that of the beach in Brazil, as a place where all social types freely mix. This book is a fine tribute to the heterodoxy and democracy of that splendid institution, raising the hope that it will return to former glory. --Declan Kiberd, author of Inventing Ireland, University of Notre Dame

This exciting new book provides the first full-length academic engagement with the phenomenon of the Irish pub from a historic, literary, political, sociological, economic, design and psychological perspective. It is warmly welcomed in the growing field of food, beverage and hospitality history. A magnificent volume.--Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire, co-editor of the award-winning Irish Food History: A Companion

A truly compelling book that details the integral, varied, and complex role that Irish pubs play in our society from the 1400s to the present day. The volume weaves together a most remarkable tapestry of interdisciplinary scholarship that draws from sociology, history, interior design, tourism, heritage, literature and music, with each chapter offering fresh insight into this unique facet of Irish socio-culture. A thoroughly enjoyable read and much anticipated contribution to the field.--Áine Ryan Mangaoang, Associate Professor, Department of Musicology, University of Oslo

This is an engaging and well-researched collection. Impressive in both breadth and magnitude this original volume brings together diverse approaches that contribute to a more rounded understanding of the Irish pub in Irish life and culture.--Daithí Kearney, Co-Director of the Centre for Creative Arts Research, Dundalk Institute of Technolog