OPINION: I could draw a shamrock in your Guinness on St Patrick's Day

Friday, 16 March 2018

Stuff reporter Jane Matthews pours a guinness ahead of St Patricks Day.

OPINION: My local Irish pub is probably the only place you can invite yourself into, ask to be taught how to pour a pint of Guinness with a shamrock on top and be urged to drink it too.

Peggy Gordon's Celtic Bar is New Plymouth's only Irish pub and in light of St Patrick's Day I went in to see if I had what it takes to work behind the bar for its 25th 'St Paddy's Day' celebration on Saturday.

I must have done something right because owner Bertie Burleigh asked what time I wanted to start at work on St Patrick's Day, despite shafting my question about how good my shamrock looked (which I did in one go, might I add).

Bertie Burleigh taught me his Guinness-pouring ways. I'd like to think I showed him up with my shamrock drawing skills.

'That's presentable, there you go, now drink it,' were Burleigh's exact words.

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Burleigh is celebrating his pub's 25th St Patrick's Day this year.

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Around 2000 people head though Peggy Gordon's doors on St Patrick's Day every year.

St Patrick's Day commemorates the life of the Irish saint and in New Zealand it's celebrated with Guinness, the colour green and an oyster shot - a Bluff oyster, vodka and tabasco is all you need to know - if you're anywhere near Burleigh's pub.

'It's a great fun day.'

The festivities kick off at 8am and before closing about six week's worth of Guinness would have been sold, Burleigh said. A number of bands will play Irish music and Burleigh is expecting about 2000 people to make their way through the door.

It is 'by far' the busiest day of the year, according to Burleigh.

When Burleigh opened the Irish pub in 1993, after moving to Taranaki from Glasgow, Scotland, they used to always do a shamrock in every pint of Guinness they served. Now staff only do them on request for people who 'appreciate it'.

Burleigh said his first few shamrock attempts were 'car wrecks' which is why I'd like to suggest I'm better at drawing shamrocks than an Irish pub owner.