Toasting Arthur

Arthur's day began two years ago, marking the 250th anniversary of Guinness. There were special events all round the country, and some big musical names turned up without warning in pubs around town. We joined in the fun at the Forty Foot pub in Dún Laoghaire and actually timed things to perfection, ordering our pints with military precision which resulted in a receipt time-stamped with the magic number 17:59. To be honest, it was all a bit of a damp squib, and yet I felt in the mood to give it another go this year, and met up with Carl at Gilbert & Wright's. Once again we thought we'd timed things well, but this time our pints weren't ready in time for us to join in the 17:59 toast.

There was a music duo on in the main area, and that's where the live video feed was being broadcast from Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Limerick. We wimped out, because it was all a bit too loud for our tender ears and went wandering around G&W's looking for a quieter corner. It was upstairs that we came across this gang of lads who weren't at all shy to raise their glasses in a bit-late toast to J. Arthur Guinness. We didn't remember the décor of this upstairs room being as kitsch '50s as it is, but maybe we didn't have our wits about us the last time we were there.

To our shame, we only had the one pint in G&W's and went across the road to O'Loughlin's instead for what we expected would be and what turned out to definitely be a complete change of scene and atmosphere. A couple of pints there and then it was on to a nearby Indian restaurant for a bite to eat (we were the only people there).

An enjoyable evening, even if the main event once again disappointed.