The one thing they got wrong in ‘The Banshees of Insherin,’ the charming Irish film that will most likely end up winning no Oscars on Sunday, is the landlord.
He is mostly forgettable and in awe of his regulars – nothing more than a glorified bartender. Perhaps this was intentional and an accurate representation of life on sleepy Irish islands in 1923.
But that is not the impression you get in the Irish pubs in Copenhagen, where the landlords are very often the lifeblood of the establishment.
Highly qualified foreigners
From Tony at Kennedy’s and Naoise at the Shamrock Inn to Eamonn at Gravens Rand and Paul at Cafe Svejk, these guys are super good at what they do: it’s a pleasure to enjoy a drink in their company, so it’s no wonder that many consider these pubs their second home.
In fact, when we talk about highly educated foreigners, we should include the Irish landlords, as they are just as valuable an export to Denmark as biodegradable plastic specialists.
Fact: no one hosts better than the Irish.
Great craic at The Globe
After all, doing something for 10,000 hours makes you an expert – although you’d imagine most of them get a head start and put in overtime – and in the case of Globe landlord Brian McKenna, it’s been 25 years since he opened the doors to its establishment.
We caught up with him (see pages 4-5) to find out what the pub has planned for St Patrick’s Day, along with a few anecdotes about the stunning interior and how the Globe managed to mark the big day during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Watching Brian at work—the best bartender this side of the Mississippi, apparently—is always a privilege: proof once again that landlording is an art form we should cherish.
Another overlooked profession? Speaking of art forms, it’s worth asking if improv artists get the recognition they deserve – compared to actors, dancers or even stand-up comedians.
In this issue we interview Sarah McGillion (pages 6-7), the Irish founder of SuperCut, an improv group who actually perform on St Patrick’s Day, although that may be a coincidence!
Sarah admits she only has one Irish friend in Denmark and didn’t really sound very sure when she said she thought they played Gaelic football in Copenhagen. Well, hopefully, Sarah, you might learn more about Irish society by reading this supplement!
Huge rise in popularity
For over 20 years now, the Irish community has worked diligently to make St Patrick’s Day the number one national holiday in Copenhagen.
The efforts of the organizers of the Parade (see page 8) and 3-legged Race (pages 10-11) together with the Irish pubs have made the day a big draw for Copenhagen, as thousands flock here every year from all over. across Europe to join in the fun.
It is also an opportunity to sell Ireland as a fabulous holiday destination (see pages 12-15).
Shoutout to the actresses!
In full circulation, ‘The Banshees of Insherin’ has no fewer than four performance nominations (none of which will win) in what is a breakout year for Irish acting.
But while the prowess of Irish men in the field is well documented, did you know that in recent years the women have started to give them a pretty decent run for their money (pages 16-17).
It’s yet another reminder that Ireland’s most successful export is neither Guinness nor its whisky, but its people.
Check out our full 2023 St Patrick’s Day supplement here.
Source: The Nordic Page