Guinness-fueled ‘holiday’ troubles many in Ireland

Associated Press ^ | Sep 26, 2013 9:58 AM EDT | Shawn Pogatchnik

[Olog-hai]

Ireland’s love affair with pub and pint is sparking national soul-searching as never before because of an unofficial holiday dreamed up by Guinness.

Thursday’s celebrations of Arthur’s Day, honoring the 18^th-century founder of Ireland’s quintessential drink, feature surprise musical performances in 815 pubs and clubs across Ireland as well as concerts worldwide from Malaysia to Jamaica. … Many pubs are offering free pints of the dark brown stout at 5:59 p.m.—a reference to the founding of Guinness in 1759 …

But this year, Guinness has been put on the defensive amid surging protests that Arthur’s Day is compounding an alcoholic culture that costs Ireland €3.7 billion ($5 billion) annually in hung-over workers, a Europe-leading rate of liver disease, late-night vandalism and violence in hospital emergency rooms. “They shouldn’t call it Arthur’s Day. They should call it Vomit Day,” said Aisling Fitzsimons, a 50-year-old manager of a convenience store who says she has to hose down the sidewalk outside most weekends. …

[donmeaker]

Liberals make me vomit.

[Tanniker Smith]

Vomit Day would be Friday.

[Huskrrrr]

Ninety-nine bottles of Stout on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of Stout....

[dfwgator]

[Boiler Plate]

I believe Family Guy demonstrated this as scientific fact.

http://video.adultswim.com/family-guy/irish-history.html

[EQAndyBuzz]

Cinco de Mayo in the US was a holiday dreamed up by Corona. I went to Mexico for Cinco De Mayo. Know what I found? Teachers marching their students through the town.

[Buckeye McFrog]

My Irish ancestors were missing work with hangovers long before the marketing department at Guinness came up with this holiday.

[Night Hides Not]

Vomit Day would be Friday.

The alcohol content in Guinness is insufficient to cause vomiting.

[jimmygrace]

Guiness Stout is proof that God loves us but expects us to take responsibility for our actions.

[dfwgator]

Dropkick Murphys - Irish Drinking Song

Well I stumbled in at two am all drunk and fulla smoke
My wife said I have had enough Thats it I’m sick get out
So I stumbled down to Kelly’s Pub, across the edge of town
An I told the boys me story and we had another round

Chorus
We’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an fight
We’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an fight
And if i see a pretty girl I’ll sleep with
her tonight
Yes, We’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an fight

And Mary MacGraegor , well she was a pretty whore
She’d always greet you with a smile and never locked her door
But on the day she died all the men in town did weep
For Mary MacGraegor finally got some sleep

Chorus

Well I once loved a girl, a child I’m told
I gave her my heart and she gave me a cold
So now I sit standin here out in the pourin rain
I’ll stumble back to Kelly’s Pub and cry away me pain

I’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an Fight
We’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an fight
And if i see a pretty girl
I’ll sleep with her tonight
an I’ll drink an drink an drink an drink
an drink an drink an Fiiiiiiiiiiight

[dfwgator]

Obligatory Shane McGowan of The Pogues pic.

[COBOL2Java]

[Hot Tabasco]

Cinco de Mayo in the US was a holiday dreamed up by Corona

No it wasn't, it was Hellmann's........

[SeminoleCounty]

Oh no...lets call Bono so he can save Vomit Day....

Oh...wait....he hates Ireland...

It must be really bad if you gotta hose down barf in your shop

[Anton.Rutter]

I don’t have the patience to type this into my smartphone so I’m using the voice text function and singing to the microphone...see what happens

I was taking a freaking walk by the freakin reservoir wishin for a freakin quid to make a freakin score my head it was a aching and my throat was parched and dry and so I sent a little prayer a wingin to the sky

And there came a freakin Falcon and he walked up on the waves I said a freaking miracle and sang a couple staves of a freakin churchy ballad I learned when I was young the freakin bird took to the air and spattered me with dung

I fell down up on my knees and bowed my freakin head and said 3 freakin Aves for all the freakin dead I raised my head to see the bird wouldn’t you know it then
the freakin bird burst into flame and spattered me again

Now I know why I’m a freakin miracle I have a freakin sign for everytime I wash my hair the water turns to wine and I gives it free to workin blokes to brighten up their lives so they don’t kick it no dogs around nor beat up on their wives

Everywhere I go I’m a curious sight to see they crucified the Son of God but they don’t muck with me for I don’t mess with blind men the dying and the dead but everyday at 4 o’clock I wash my freakin head

[Night Hides Not]

[driftless2]

Missed the tour of the Guinness Brewery when in Dublin four years ago. Still had a great time. Has a glass of Guinness in an Irish pub. Funny thing...tasted like beer.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

God invested whiskey to keep the Irish from conquering the world.