Irish Pubs: The Danger

One of our "musts" in Ireland was live music. Everything we read said that you can't go to Ireland without popping into a couple pubs in the evening to hear the live music. What they don't tell you is to beware the friendly Irish men who've been drinking and are on the lookout for girls to flirt with.

We met one such young man who'd obviously thrown back a few pints by the time he sat down at our table. The conversation was most stimulating:

(read italics in an unenthusiastic and off-puting voice)

Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Hello, girls.
Us: Hi.
Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Where're you from?
Us: The States.
Sir Drinks-a-Lot: So do you have boyfriends?
Stacy (for us both): Yes. (Jen chose not to clarify.)
Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Why aren't they with two such beautiful girls?
Us: We're very trustworthy girls.
Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Where are you staying?
Stacy: Somewhere.
Jen: Down the road. (Irish translation: somewhere within a two-mile radius of here.)
Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Ah. You're beautiful girls.
Us. Thanks.

Sir Drinks-a-Lot: Well. Have a good holiday.
Us: Bye.

And that, dear friends, is how to get rid of a drunken (and friendly) Irishman.

In spite of this, we had a great time. The pub felt very safe -- lots of locals and tourists watching the exchange and laughing. And the music was awesome.