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I visited a traditional Irish pub in Corsica, and it was called Loch Ness Irish pub.
Traveler Colm Dalton is sharing his journey to visit every Irish pub globally and is revealing one of the more unusual locations he's checked off, after being asked if there is a minimum level of "Irishness" required for a pub to be considered Irish.
Are there some establishments that do not have the right to be considered a traditional Irish pub?
"There are certainly some that are bordering on the issue,' he says. 'Loch Ness, for example – famously not located in Ireland.'
So, what are the essential characteristics of a quintessential Irish pub?
Colm, from County Kerry, explains: "The first way to gauge the quality is the name. If it's named after an Irish family, like Quinn's or Keane's, you can be sure it's good as it's likely named after the person who started it. At the other end of the scale, if it's called Shamrock Pub or Guinness Pub, it's unlikely to be good."
The specialist states that "live music is a really big sign as a good Irish pub will have good live music". Patrons will also look for "aspects of Irish culture" such as Irish sports on the TV in an authentic pub.
The true indicator of a gem is the staff.
Colm says: "The staff at an Irish pub are generally exceptional. They can manage 20 orders at a time and pull pints with their elbows. They're very friendly and highly skilled in their job. You can usually tell when staff have been trained by an Irish owner. When they say, "What would you like to order? We'll bring it over to your table," that's the epitome of upscale service in an Irish pub. The welcome is crucial and that's what you'd expect in an Irish pub."
The avid traveler has so far visited 94 pubs in 45 different countries - but where are the best places to grab a drink?
He suggests checking out Patrick Foley's in Ghent, which is 'a beautiful pub by the canal with a large mural of Celtic art in the beer garden.' Colm is also a fan of Kelly's in Austin, Texas. He notes that 'It's located in a strip mall, but it appears to be an Irish cottage. It's authentic. It's the genuine article.'
Colm adds: 'Atmosphere is crucial because it can completely shift your perspective. I was at a place in Lisbon called O'Gillins on a Wednesday night and it was absolutely packed with a live band and everyone was singing. It was the perfect blend of Portuguese nightlife but with an Irish pub's charm.'
This area has a couple of charming wooden pubs with classic pub food, serving Irish and Thai cuisine, located in Vauxhall and Borough.
One can find high-quality Irish pubs in the most unexpected locations.
Colm says: 'In Jakarta, Indonesia, I was in a tuk-tuk for two hours before it dropped me off in front of a shopping mall. There was a shoe store and a hair salon, and then a small entrance which led to a really excellent Irish pub.'
The 'Minas Tirith', a Lord of the Rings-themed Irish pub located down a 'crumbling alleyway in Palermo', is also included on the list of pleasantly surprising venues.
Which Irish pubs should travelers not miss?
Interestingly, Corsica's Loch Ness is not as it seems, with Colm describing it as a "nice pub, just confused". He advises travelers to avoid Belgrade's Gecko Irish pub, which he says is misleading. Colm explains: 'It has a lizard on the branding and it's like, "Have you ever been to Ireland? There are no lizards." It was also pirate-themed, so they'd sort of confused being Irish with being a pirate. There was rigging on the walls.'
Colm has only ever walked out of one Irish pub, the Guinness Pub in Sarajevo. He recalls, 'There was no one inside, no staff members were present, and we sat in the room for 20 minutes wondering what was happening. Outside, a staff member was taking a cigarette break, seemingly unbothered.'
Colm typically orders a Guinness during his visits "in the spirit of experimentation", but recalls a time when he had to pass on a particular variation of the black brew. He says: "In Bilbao, the locals drank a drink called a Frankenstein, which combined half a Guinness and half a Heineken. And it visually presented as dark at the top and yellowy-green at the bottom. I couldn't muster the courage to drink that."
What does Colm believe is the key to the global popularity of Irish pubs?
He elaborates: 'In many countries, you have cafes and clubs, but there's a lack of a third space. And I believe an Irish pub fills that void. In some cities, the Irish pub is the alternative to the usual pub where you go if you wish to experience a more artistic and creative atmosphere. There's certainly an imitation process where someone sees an attractive pub and thinks they should replicate it.'
The most commonly used name for an Irish pub is Molly Malone's, says Colm, which is particularly popular in southeast Asia. However, James Joyce is another top choice, possibly due to the Irish author's really cool side profile, suggests Colm.
The Irish Pubs Global Federation estimates that there are more than 6,500 Irish pubs worldwide, but Colm is "optimistic" about his goal to visit each and every one.
He holds the record for visiting nine pubs in one day during a trip to Rome, where he went from 'museum to pub to museum to pub'. The self-proclaimed beer enthusiast typically brings his partner along on his adventures, stating that she has 'become somewhat of a connoisseur herself' and has developed a taste for Guinness.
Which pubs are next on the expert's list of priorities?
Colm says: 'There's a pub in Namche Bazaar, located at the foothills of the Himalayas, that looks really good and I think it's the highest Irish pub.
There is another one located in Kampala, Uganda, named Bubbles O'Leary, which was relocated brick by brick from Ireland to Uganda.
'I discovered recently, although I'm not sure how practical this would be, that there is a pub in Guantanamo Bay. I'm not aware of the details of getting there, but it would be intriguing to find out if it's possible to visit.'
To follow Colm's journey, visit his Instagram at @publicanenemy or website - publicanenemy.com .
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