BRENDAN BEHAN'S COFFEE SHOP.

I am a great fan of the writings of Brendan Behan - shock horror! So I was sorry to read in the Belfast Telegraph that the two Dublin Bewley's Oriental Cafés, in Grafton Street and Westmoreland Street, will shut at the end of the month, leaving 234 workers redundant.

James Joyce stopped for coffee in Bewley's in Grafton Street and the playwright Brendan Behan supped tea while waiting for the pubs to open. I have had many cups of tea in Bewley's and am sad to see it go under. A lovely bit of the old world slips away.... 

Comments

[Young Irelander]

Yes it's a shame to see Dublin losing a part of its history.It's getting to be a common thing nowadays though in Dublin.
Even more worrying is the increased "modernization" of the city with structures like the Spire,or as I like to call it,the big grey pole....

[Emily]

Hahahaha, YI. I've always thought that thing was hideous. The first time I saw it, all I could think was "huh?"

[peteb]

Just don't let Starbucks buy it.

[Emily]

What, Pete? Bewley's or the Spire?

[Madradin Ruad]

I think the spire is admirable.It is futuristic, a huge improvement on pietas and retrospectives.

[John]

It's sad to see Bewleys go, but the sadder thing is that for the last ten years or so, Bewleys has been crap.

To survive in a massively expensive site like Grafton Street, you need to be running a tight ship. Bewleys hasn't, and for the last decade or so has been living on its past glories.

Most of those wringing their hands about Bewleys' passing probably haven't been in the place for years.

Oh, and by the way, I like the Spike. It got people talking, and that's what good public art is supposed to do.

[Young Irelander]

Madradin Ruad

"I think the spire is admirable.It is futuristic,a huge improvement on pietas and retrospectives."

But it's about as appropriate as seeing Boris Johnson in the Kop.

[Madradin Ruad]

How come ?

[peteb]

Sorry, Emily, I seem to be off the topic of the thread if not the original post.

I meant don't let Starbucks buy Bewley's Oriental cafés.

If they're going to go.. let them go.

BTW The Irish Times covered this back in October.

[Young Irelander]

Dublin is a city of tradition.To walk down the city in the old days was to feel the history of the place all around you.Compare it to the soulless Cork city centre and there really is no contest(just my opinion,ye rebels).
Dublin is still a great city and the traditions of old can still be felt but we jeopardise it by modernization such as erecting a huge structure smack dab in the centre of the city.
Also bring back the "Floozy in the Jacuzzi!"

[Madradin Ruad]

An article you might be interested in YI -

Ibiza on the Liffey: but where are the Irish?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1345738,00.html

[Young Irelander]

Yes an interesting article and the 'wishlist' of ideas they had in mind didn't seem too bad.
I don't go to Templebar too often myself but I went there last Saturday with friends and had a good time.I met two Swedish girls but the alcohol I had affected my ability to say intelligent things and I ended up asking them if they liked Abba.Drinking kills brain cells.

[Madradin Ruad]

That has to be the saddest Abba Story ever LOL !

[Emily]

Ha ha, YI. Did you also ask them if they like Swedish meatballs?

[Madradin Ruad]

Pictures Two Swedish Girls next morning talking -
" That Bloke"
"Which bloke"
"The one chewing his tongue"
"The Abba man?"
"That's the one"
"I quite fancied him"
"Me too until he mentioned Abba"

[Young Irelander]

LOL!If only that had been my only blunder with those girls.Other embarrassing moments included:

ME:What's the difference between Swedish guys and Irish guys?
HER:Swedish guys are more shy.Irish guys have more confidence.I think it's because alot of Irish guys are drunk though!
ME:I'm not drunk.
HER:Yeah right!
ME:I'm drunk on life.
HER:Eww!What a line!(Turns to her friend laughing and they both proceed to repeat the line.)

Later....
HER:I hate it when people mock blondes though.
ME:I know a good blonde joke.
HER:What?
ME:Nah I couldn't tell you.
HER:Come on!
ME:What's black and fuzzy and hangs from the ceiling?A blonde electrician.
HER AND OTHER GIRL:(awkward silence)

There then followed numerous attempts by me and my friends to impress the girls.....
ME:You can't trust these guys.I'm the only sane one here.Also,(I lean in to whisper in her ear)I'm a weapon of mass seduction.(I read that somewhere.Be kind.)
HER:Oh no!(Turns away to her friend in disgust.)

I'm sure there were other embarrassing moments throughout the night.
Anyway,the evening ended badly for me and one of my other friends as it turns out the girls lived out by Blanchardstown just like two of my other friends and they'd all decided to go bowling.Me and my mate had just enough money to get home so we couldn't go!
As we went to leave she said it was bad to let me and my mate go off on our own(Could this have been her way of saying she fancied the pants off me?I like to think so!)

The Dublin nightlife it can't be beat!

[Madradin Ruad]

The Lord Loves a trier ;)

[Paul]

YI,
After your experiences with the Swedish ladies, this article may depress you even more.
http://www.newstatesman.com/nsqpass.php3?num=10&QryTxt=British+Cultural+Imperialism
Unfortunately it's by payment only( kind of ironic with it being the New Statesman) but it's well worth shelling out for.
Patrick West's basic line is that much of historic Dublin is being bought over by the "British Cultural Imperialists"(i.e M&S & Tescos) and that horror of horrors, even Tayto Crisps is facing a battle for survival against the likes of Walkers.
Old Dev must be turning in his grave.

[Madradin Ruad]

Useful Link, Thanks Paul