A new Irish pub just opened here in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They claim to have brought everything over from Ireland down to the barstools. Anyone know of this pub when it was in Dublin? Is this a chain pub or was it a real family pub?
I do know that at the height of the plastic paddy pub boom in the UK there were at least two companies in Ireland producing pub interiors specifically for the British market. They had catalogues of all the standard blarney that theme pubs use - bicycles for the ceiling, false post office counters, road signs with the names in Gaelic etc, all newly minted to look old.
Apparently the next thing was to be Aussie themed pubs with lots of corrugated iron and plastic sharks, but luckily it never took off...
...I also notice that their website says the pub was manufactured there...and that "craic" is the Gaelic word for 'communal fun'. D'oh! Alarm bells are ringing already....
jase and I was just after going down to Cregeen's after the Germany game for a pint only to find it's disappeared altogether. Little Rock you say? How did it get there?
And they serve "classic Irish cuisine" like Buffalo wings, pulled pork sandwiches, quesadillas, and s'mores pies.
The photo of the interior that comes up first on the photos page looks like a well-appointed, upscale, fancy Dublin pub, but nothing at all like a simple, cozy, old-fashioned, endangered, family-owned country/small-town pub.
I'm sure they host such authentic Irish events as NFL Football every Sunday afternoon which cannot be interrupted by such nonsense as a group of musicians sitting around playing a few tunes.
There is lots of great fiddling in Arkansaw and with that comes the problem of the drink and the rest of it. The Arkies have been dealing with this for centuries so they have dry Counties. For those who don't know what that means, think Cities without Pubs or Bars.
And that is precisely what keeps Arkansaw from falling literally into the drink, dry counties and strict liquor laws.
But it isn't all that bad because you can go the the Liquor Store and take home unopened as much as you like, and once inside your dwelling, drink yourself to death, but you cannot go into a public place and do it.
Also some of these little Cities have other odd laws. For example one I visited allows live free acoustic music anywhere on the town Square but does not allow amplifiers, which are illegal.
Maybe an Irish restaurant might have made it, but a Pub? Naw. After the rich dwee kids get tired of it, the crows will take it over.
Well, Pulaski county is a wet county, thankfully. We can even buy a beer in a restaurant on Sunday (but the liquor stores are closed). Took decades to get that much.
Dr. Funk, to be fair, I was in a sesh in Milltown Malbay years' back, and some rather large fellas at the bar shut us down real quick, when the All-Ireland semi-final hurling match came on the TV.
I can attest to what bc is saying about the company fabrication thing. When I clicked on the link to Cregeen's, the first thing I thought was that I was looking at one of my local pubs/restaurants (in Baltimore, US). The two places definitely must have ordered from the same catalog.
There are lots of pubs cropping up in the US claiming to have interiors shipped from the old country. And pub 'chains' like Fados and Ri Ra. A bit too slick and manufactured for my taste, although I have to admit, the local Ri Ra does sponsor a good session and set dancing, along with other events that promote Irish culture.
old lino (linolium),
a big jar of pickled eggs,
a Baby Sham advert circa 1970's and never touched since,
authentic oul fella who practically lives at the bar,
a fag machine (cigareets for our yank friends) that only takes punts,
stumpy bottles of Mc Ardles Ale
Tayto Crisps
the overbearing stench of old p*ss emenating from the outside toilet,
no womens toilet,
We have a couple of those around here. We played the opening of one in Banff a few years ago, and they were very proud of the fact that everything came over from Ireland in a container. I believe all the staff came over in a container from Australia.
"Irish Pub Concept"??!? Okay. If it looks like one, it must be one, or at least to the clueless in search of an authentic experience without the discomfort of travelling and dealing with the local rifraff.
"Positively affect customer perception of your service quality." What the #$@! does that mean? (The wait staff doesn' t spit in your pint?) Who write this gibberish?
Fascinating reading... One of the pubs I play at is a high-concept franchise of a chain of pubs, but interestingly, it is maybe the most Irish feeling in ambience. And a lot of the Irish pubs around here sort of fit into that Disneyesque Oirish, Plastic Paddy kind of style. That seems to be something that works as a business concept.
I find this all interesting, because I have owned 3 bars (2 dance clubs, and one cafe/billiard hall) in my lifetime. And have thought for years that I might be interested in getting into the business again, but with an Irish pub. I would want to make it "authentic", of course, and make it like some of my favorite places in Ireland. But I'd also want it to be commercially successful, and it seems that being kitschy is part of how you can do that.
But Pete, what made your favorite places in Ireland so appealing? You have to re-create that feeling by including elements of comfort and place. Kitsch is great, if it is LOCAL kitsch.
Guinness is likely behind your new pub--they and biz partners have financed the opening of several pubs in the U.S. and elsewhere, with all components shipped from Ireland.
And they needn't fake the pub's bric-a-brac, with rural pubs closing in Ireland at one a day or so. You just ship those Hibernian oddities over, pour the black stuff, call yourself Duffy's and deep-souled eejits will voluntarily play tunes for nothing.
Nope. It would be a local pub. With local food, drink, and people. What a concept! You could play Colorado Traditional Music and serve....um.....beef! With John Denver Sing-Along Night!
To be fair, some of the best places I have played around here are just that, local bars that aren't Irish in any way. Maybe the place that had the most Irish feel to it was a little tiny place we used to play up in Ft. Collins that had a maximum occupancy of maybe 20 people. But alas, the bartender left, and her replacement wanted an "open mic" night instead of the session.
But it might be fun to do an Irish pub, and try to do it right, instead of cheesy...
It would be Rev, no doubt. I often thought of it myself. I've even gotten several like-minded fools with pockets together to talk about it. That's about as far as we've gotten, but, perhaps someday.
Deep Souled Eejit was a cousin on me mother's side. Feckless lie-about that he was. Always dreaming of the "perfect session" at a REAL Irish pub - in Arizona no less - ya, right.
The London Bridge ended up in Arizona, by the way. And we too have no shortage of "Built in Ireland" Plastic Paddy Pubs shipped over brick by brick from some mysterious pub building factory in Ireland, staffed by leprechauns I'm sure. The tell tale signs often include Guinness St. Paddy's day digital count-down clocks, and framed pictures of Oscar Wilde, O'Neill, Joyce and Behan, and posters proclaiming "Trivia Nights" with questions to which most Americans can't answer. It's all good though.
"Did you know that when a mixed group of men and women visit your Irish Pub, the women will decide if the group at large will stay in your pub for any length of time? Women do not like Irish pubs that are too cramped, smoky, noisy, dirty or a place where the staff is not friendly and helpful. Guinness has commissioned research to find out what customers are looking for from their favorite Irish pub, and they found that the five areas below were the difference between keeping and losing customers. These areas are:
Air Quality
Cleanliness of bar and toilets
Music
Staff
Food offering"
"Where's my food offering?! If I don't get my food offering RIGHT NOW I'll put such a hex on your place and you'll not see any of us or our man-folk ever again"
Well here I am, living in an old farmhouse in Co. Cork, and I've just realised I could make a fortune out of the contents of my barn! For anyone looking for authentic Irish bits and pieces to furnish their pub I have 3 completely knackered bicycles, Some bits of decaying donkey harness, plus woodworm ridden bits of an old donkey cart,including part of an old cartwheel, various old buckets with holes in them, and assorted other otherwise useless items, any offers?
Someone referred to kitchy Irish pubs as Disney-esque above. Actually, Disney put an Irish pub in their "Downtown Disney" area in Orlando a few years ago, and it is very nicely designed, and not cluttered up with a lot of fake stuff. It is, of course MUCH bigger than your ordinary pub, but they did a good job making it feel intimate despite its size. And the dancers are drawn from local irish dance schools, and the band is first rate players from across the pond. Since chain pubs are (unfortunately) part of the landscape now, I wish more of them would do it with a bit of class like Disney did......
My wife and myself ate supper at Cregeen's this evening and we were both impressed by the service and the food. Neither one of us thought the prices of the food and the drink were outrageously expensive, either. Since neither one of us has ever been to Ireland, we don't know just how authentic Cregeen's is but we did enjoy our visit. It was easy for us to visit Cregeen's because we actually live here in North Little Rock about a mile or two from Cregeen's.
Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
A new Irish pub just opened here in North Little Rock, Arkansas. They claim to have brought everything over from Ireland down to the barstools. Anyone know of this pub when it was in Dublin? Is this a chain pub or was it a real family pub?
I haven't been yet, maybe this weekend...
# Posted on October 15th 2007 by Screetch
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Oh, here's a link:
http://www.cregeenspubs.com/index.html
I can't figure out if they really moved a pub or just had it fabricated there and built it here, which would be odd...
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Screetch
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Screetch,
I do know that at the height of the plastic paddy pub boom in the UK there were at least two companies in Ireland producing pub interiors specifically for the British market. They had catalogues of all the standard blarney that theme pubs use - bicycles for the ceiling, false post office counters, road signs with the names in Gaelic etc, all newly minted to look old.
Apparently the next thing was to be Aussie themed pubs with lots of corrugated iron and plastic sharks, but luckily it never took off...
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
...I also notice that their website says the pub was manufactured there...and that "craic" is the Gaelic word for 'communal fun'. D'oh! Alarm bells are ringing already....
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
LOL, that does explain it.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Screetch
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Ya the "communal fun" im my local is grrrreeaaaaatt.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Lollypolly
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
jase and I was just after going down to Cregeen's after the Germany game for a pint only to find it's disappeared altogether. Little Rock you say? How did it get there?
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Bren
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Weirdly enough, I know 'creg' is 'rock' in Manx, so 'cregeen' would be 'little rock', but why choose Manx? Or is it the same in Irish?
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
And they serve "classic Irish cuisine" like Buffalo wings, pulled pork sandwiches, quesadillas, and s'mores pies.
The photo of the interior that comes up first on the photos page looks like a well-appointed, upscale, fancy Dublin pub, but nothing at all like a simple, cozy, old-fashioned, endangered, family-owned country/small-town pub.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by GaryAMartin
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Maybe you can start a session..hmmmm......That way you won't have to pay for the over priced pints and wings....
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
A couple links from their website which I'm sure you all will find enlightening:
http://www.irishpubconcept.com/homepage.asp
http://www.ggdglobal.com/
I'm sure they host such authentic Irish events as NFL Football every Sunday afternoon which cannot be interrupted by such nonsense as a group of musicians sitting around playing a few tunes.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by dr_funkenstein
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Arkansas? Isn't that where London Bridge ended up?
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by oldstrings
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
BE WARNED - I very nearly spewed on my keyboard when I got to this page...
http://www.irishpubconcept.com/craic/music.asp
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by bc_box_player
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
The name isn't an issue, the location is.
There is lots of great fiddling in Arkansaw and with that comes the problem of the drink and the rest of it. The Arkies have been dealing with this for centuries so they have dry Counties. For those who don't know what that means, think Cities without Pubs or Bars.
And that is precisely what keeps Arkansaw from falling literally into the drink, dry counties and strict liquor laws.
But it isn't all that bad because you can go the the Liquor Store and take home unopened as much as you like, and once inside your dwelling, drink yourself to death, but you cannot go into a public place and do it.
Also some of these little Cities have other odd laws. For example one I visited allows live free acoustic music anywhere on the town Square but does not allow amplifiers, which are illegal.
Maybe an Irish restaurant might have made it, but a Pub? Naw. After the rich dwee kids get tired of it, the crows will take it over.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Schlongbow
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Trad Musak piped in? Really? They'd better serve a damn good Reuben.
Ah well, what was I expecting. This is about as good as we're going to get here in the deep South :(
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Screetch
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Well, Pulaski county is a wet county, thankfully. We can even buy a beer in a restaurant on Sunday (but the liquor stores are closed). Took decades to get that much.
Yeeeehaw!!!!
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Screetch
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
I like the aerial view they provide on their website.
Comes in handy if you're arriving by helicopter.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Dr. Funk, to be fair, I was in a sesh in Milltown Malbay years' back, and some rather large fellas at the bar shut us down real quick, when the All-Ireland semi-final hurling match came on the TV.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"At Cregeen’s we’ve imported Craic from Ireland."
................
I wonder if they have to pay a hefty Customs tax on the imported craic?
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
But to be honest, I think they have a good location there, from a business standpoint.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
I can attest to what bc is saying about the company fabrication thing. When I clicked on the link to Cregeen's, the first thing I thought was that I was looking at one of my local pubs/restaurants (in Baltimore, US). The two places definitely must have ordered from the same catalog.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Jason G
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"Brand new antiques".
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Aye ... but they're everywhere!!! We've even got one in the casino. Fake!
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Clear Drops
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
There are lots of pubs cropping up in the US claiming to have interiors shipped from the old country. And pub 'chains' like Fados and Ri Ra. A bit too slick and manufactured for my taste, although I have to admit, the local Ri Ra does sponsor a good session and set dancing, along with other events that promote Irish culture.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Can you order from this catalogue the following?
old lino (linolium),
a big jar of pickled eggs,
a Baby Sham advert circa 1970's and never touched since,
authentic oul fella who practically lives at the bar,
a fag machine (cigareets for our yank friends) that only takes punts,
stumpy bottles of Mc Ardles Ale
Tayto Crisps
the overbearing stench of old p*ss emenating from the outside toilet,
no womens toilet,
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by iwerzon
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
We have a couple of those around here. We played the opening of one in Banff a few years ago, and they were very proud of the fact that everything came over from Ireland in a container. I believe all the staff came over in a container from Australia.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Gzeg
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
I don't care what a pub looks like. If you can't have a session there, it's useless. USELESS, I say. [thumps table furiously]
iwerzon, that's hilarious. Is there a link for this catalog? Can we order online? [/sarcasm]
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"Irish Pub Concept"??!? Okay. If it looks like one, it must be one, or at least to the clueless in search of an authentic experience without the discomfort of travelling and dealing with the local rifraff.
"Positively affect customer perception of your service quality." What the #$@! does that mean? (The wait staff doesn' t spit in your pint?) Who write this gibberish?
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Batlady
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Em...."Who writes this gibberish?"
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Batlady
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"Who"? The corporate marketing department!
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Fascinating reading... One of the pubs I play at is a high-concept franchise of a chain of pubs, but interestingly, it is maybe the most Irish feeling in ambience. And a lot of the Irish pubs around here sort of fit into that Disneyesque Oirish, Plastic Paddy kind of style. That seems to be something that works as a business concept.
I find this all interesting, because I have owned 3 bars (2 dance clubs, and one cafe/billiard hall) in my lifetime. And have thought for years that I might be interested in getting into the business again, but with an Irish pub. I would want to make it "authentic", of course, and make it like some of my favorite places in Ireland. But I'd also want it to be commercially successful, and it seems that being kitschy is part of how you can do that.
Pete
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
But Pete, what made your favorite places in Ireland so appealing? You have to re-create that feeling by including elements of comfort and place. Kitsch is great, if it is LOCAL kitsch.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Batlady
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Guinness is likely behind your new pub--they and biz partners have financed the opening of several pubs in the U.S. and elsewhere, with all components shipped from Ireland.
And they needn't fake the pub's bric-a-brac, with rural pubs closing in Ireland at one a day or so. You just ship those Hibernian oddities over, pour the black stuff, call yourself Duffy's and deep-souled eejits will voluntarily play tunes for nothing.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by NEW Pure Drop® Ear Canal Oil
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Well, a number of things made those places appealing. The food, the drink, the music, and the people...
If I had a pub filled with local kitsch, it wouldn't exactly be an Irish pub, then, would it?
Pete
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Nope. It would be a local pub.
With local food, drink, and people. What a concept! You could play Colorado Traditional Music and serve....um.....beef! With John Denver Sing-Along Night!
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Batlady
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
<shudder>
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
To be fair, some of the best places I have played around here are just that, local bars that aren't Irish in any way. Maybe the place that had the most Irish feel to it was a little tiny place we used to play up in Ft. Collins that had a maximum occupancy of maybe 20 people. But alas, the bartender left, and her replacement wanted an "open mic" night instead of the session.
But it might be fun to do an Irish pub, and try to do it right, instead of cheesy...
Pete
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
It would be Rev, no doubt. I often thought of it myself. I've even gotten several like-minded fools with pockets together to talk about it. That's about as far as we've gotten, but, perhaps someday.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"Deep-souled eejit"
Is that available on a T Shirt?
Is this one of Jusa Nutter Eejit's long lost relatives?
"Sure enough, it's the Eejits from County Doofus! Failte!"
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
[Warbles] "Rocky mountain high, in County Doofus......."
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Batlady
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Look out! It's the ghost of Hunter S. Thompson drunk as a skunk with his shotgun! Run for your lives!
(That's all I got for Colorado jokes)
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Deep Souled Eejit was a cousin on me mother's side. Feckless lie-about that he was. Always dreaming of the "perfect session" at a REAL Irish pub - in Arizona no less - ya, right.
The London Bridge ended up in Arizona, by the way. And we too have no shortage of "Built in Ireland" Plastic Paddy Pubs shipped over brick by brick from some mysterious pub building factory in Ireland, staffed by leprechauns I'm sure. The tell tale signs often include Guinness St. Paddy's day digital count-down clocks, and framed pictures of Oscar Wilde, O'Neill, Joyce and Behan, and posters proclaiming "Trivia Nights" with questions to which most Americans can't answer. It's all good though.
# Posted on October 16th 2007 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Hey Pete,
If you're serious about that, please drop a line to me; there's an opportunity afoot.
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by brianc
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Pete wrote "But it might be fun to do an Irish pub, and try to do it right, instead of cheesy..."
I refer you back a few posts to my list of prerequisite essentials for that authentic Irish je ne c'est quoi, Lino , pickled eggs etc.
Have you ever tried to say 'A roll of linolium' after 8 pints of stout?
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by iwerzon
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
"Did you know that when a mixed group of men and women visit your Irish Pub, the women will decide if the group at large will stay in your pub for any length of time? Women do not like Irish pubs that are too cramped, smoky, noisy, dirty or a place where the staff is not friendly and helpful. Guinness has commissioned research to find out what customers are looking for from their favorite Irish pub, and they found that the five areas below were the difference between keeping and losing customers. These areas are:
Air Quality
Cleanliness of bar and toilets
Music
Staff
Food offering"
"Where's my food offering?! If I don't get my food offering RIGHT NOW I'll put such a hex on your place and you'll not see any of us or our man-folk ever again"
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by gretchen
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
We were asked, very politely, to put a break in a pub gig in West Cork when Rodge and Podge came on the tv...
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by TomB-R
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Well here I am, living in an old farmhouse in Co. Cork, and I've just realised I could make a fortune out of the contents of my barn! For anyone looking for authentic Irish bits and pieces to furnish their pub I have 3 completely knackered bicycles, Some bits of decaying donkey harness, plus woodworm ridden bits of an old donkey cart,including part of an old cartwheel, various old buckets with holes in them, and assorted other otherwise useless items, any offers?
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by cathycook
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
Someone referred to kitchy Irish pubs as Disney-esque above. Actually, Disney put an Irish pub in their "Downtown Disney" area in Orlando a few years ago, and it is very nicely designed, and not cluttered up with a lot of fake stuff. It is, of course MUCH bigger than your ordinary pub, but they did a good job making it feel intimate despite its size. And the dancers are drawn from local irish dance schools, and the band is first rate players from across the pond. Since chain pubs are (unfortunately) part of the landscape now, I wish more of them would do it with a bit of class like Disney did......
# Posted on October 17th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Cregeen's Pub Just Arrived from Dublin...
My wife and myself ate supper at Cregeen's this evening and we were both impressed by the service and the food. Neither one of us thought the prices of the food and the drink were outrageously expensive, either. Since neither one of us has ever been to Ireland, we don't know just how authentic Cregeen's is but we did enjoy our visit. It was easy for us to visit Cregeen's because we actually live here in North Little Rock about a mile or two from Cregeen's.
# Posted on January 11th 2008 by fauxcelt