Sláinte! on Samhain 🇮🇪
St. James Gate - Guinness Brewery
Nestled on the western outskirt of downtown Dublin stands the renown St. James Gate Brewery—a must see. Even if it is a tourist trap.
Guinness has been made since 1759, first brewed around the time of the American Revolution. Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000 year lease on the the legendary brewery grounds to ensure access to the highest quality water source. It’s not just a story—this is remarkable craftsmanship.
No beer is as popular worldwide as Guinness, brewed in over 50 countries and sold over 120—with 220 million gallons sold in 2011!!!
Journey through the history of Guinness and the process of making beer. Last stop at the tour you learn to properly pour your own Guinness and cheers (Sláinte) before enjoying your pour at the Gravity Bar with 360º views of Dublin. This was the start of Halloween night in Dublin or Samhain, the original Pagan holiday from which our Halloween was born. I had a second, or third, and headed to Temple Bar.
Samhain in Temple Bar
Samhain was a fall equinox and harvest celebration.
Druid priests would the light a communal fire and sacrifice cattle. Villagers would take a flame home to relight their hearth paying respect to the spirit word in hopes of warding off illness and death. This was the one night per year where humans could interact with those of the spirit world.
Samhain celebrations were in full effect after my brewery tour. Dublin is very much a young person’s business city, mostly filled with foreigners, main areas were quiet, but in Temple Bar it was popping off.
People dressed up everywhere enjoying music and friends.
I came across two neighbors dressed in their track gear at Stag’s Head. I couldn’t resist getting into an argument with them.
“Why’s the carpet all wet TODD!?!!”
“I don’t KNOW Margot!!”
