To coincide with St Patrick's Day an article in the Economist has debunked the usual Guinness guff, and even claims that in the 80s it came close to being re-branded as an English stout.
There's some interesting stuff in the article. I knew the Guinness family are prods, and were opposed Irish independence, but I was surprised to see that one went as far as providing considerable funding to the original Ulster Volunteer Force in 1913. I haven't studied the history of Guinness, and sadly no references were given, but I'm temped to start now. Though perhaps I'd better get through all the beer books and magazines I have piled up around me first.
Irish history is not a simple north and south thing, its much more complex .Ulster Volunteer Force was founded in Dublin I believe. Many of our famious emancipators where church of ireland.
ReplyDeleteYes, Wolfe Tone was a Protestant.
DeleteThe fact that Guinness's made beer in a London style doesn't count for much: the brewery owned by Daniel O'Connell Jr across the street did the exact same thing.
ReplyDeleteI guess not, but that apparently Guinness considered re-branding as an English beer I find interesting.
DeleteIn fairness it was an English beer brewed in west London, so that would have made a lot of sense.
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