subject: Cultural Touches In Irish Theme Bars [print this page] Part of the great fun of going to a pub in Ireland is that you are not just sitting there drinking. You are enjoying the whole evening. Yes, there is drink if you want it. But it is not anything like an American bar. Instead, there is great food with some high-quality specialties and each bar has their own special touches. Also, there is usually entertainment. Sometimes that includes a formal program, but often it will just be an impromptu evening with dancing, music, song, and poetry.
There are Irish dances, called Ceili dances, purposely designed for large crowds that are half-inebriated. These dances are sort of like complicated line dances in that everyone follows the basic steps as they are called out although the Ceili dances are somewhat standardized. Then, of course, Irish step dancing is very popular world-wide with the rise of the popularity of famous dance troops that spread the beauty and complexity of Irish step dance worldwide. These dances can be very difficult, but the basic steps are easy and it is not impossible to pick up the steps quickly. Irish theme bars might want to consider bringing in some skilled dancers to perform as well as perhaps just bringing someone in who knows about Ceili dancing and could help the crowd get into the spirit of Irish theme pubs and enjoy a fun evening of dancing crazily with their new friends.
Irish music has a distinct sound with the drums and the fiddle, the harp, and the flute. These instruments are not quite as distinctive as the Scottish bag-pipe, but having musicians play periodically at Irish theme bars would really make the experience more authentic for all of the guests. Sometimes bands have singers as well, singers that can belt out the beautiful traditional Irish songs and make everyone in the Irish theme pubs cry as they empathize with the soul-deep longing to return to the Ireland that used to be.
Poets have been respected and even to a point worshipped in Irish culture for literally centuries. Those skilled with a turn of phrase were respected as would a priest be, protected against any abuse and granted many privileges. That love of poetry is still present in the Irish soul and most crowds in Irish theme bars would really appreciate the occasional night of poetry, both traditional and modern.
These sorts of cultural events can make a large difference in attracting a crowd to Irish theme pubs. With some foresight and some developing connections, this authentic Irish feeling can be replicated in bars and pubs everywhere.
