Sure you’d have to check and see if the Guinness was as good as at home.
More than half of Irish people abroad visit Irish bars, according to a survey by Amárach Research.
More than 1,000 people were asked questions about Ireland’s sentiment towards the drink and hospitality sector.
Apparently, if you want to find the love of your life, head straight to your nearest watering hole. Almost one-third of Irish people have met their significant other at a pub, hotel or nightclub.
As well as that, six in ten people said that they would choose a local pub, restaurant or hotel for family celebrations.
Ireland’s drinks industry currently employs 92,000 people and the survey found that 52% have worked in the industry at some stage in their life.
Even when Irish people go on holiday, they can’t get enough of the local Irish pub scene. More than half (55%) of Irish people visit Irish pubs when travelling abroad (no doubt in the hope of getting that elusive free pint on the house).
The findings, compiled on behalf of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), underline the central role that Ireland’s pub and hospitality industry plays in Irish communities, even internationally, as a social hub and an employer.
“Our research shows that to the majority of Irish people, the local pub is the bedrock of their community, bringing friends and family together,” said Donall O’Keeffe, Secretary of DIGI and Chief Executive of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA).
He added: “The wider hospitality sector is also a major employer for a sizeable portion of the Irish workforce, and an important training ground for important life and interpersonal skills.”
Economically, the broader hospitality sector purchases €1.1bn worth of Irish inputs annually and exports €1.25bn worth of produce, contributing to growth in both urban and rural areas.
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