Guinness announced an big line-up of artists for Dublin’s Arthur’s Day 250th anniversary celebrations on September 24, 2009, including Tom Jones, Sugababes, David Gray, The Kooks, Razorlight, David Holmes, Mystery Jets and Noah And The Whale, who (along with The Chapters) played a special acoustic gig in Oliver St John Gogarty’s in Dublin’s Temple Bar to annouce the line-up. In total, over 60 artists will be performing in Dublin and around the world, including New York,Lagos, Yaoundé and Asia.
The celebrations begin in Dublin at 17:59 local time, with a global toast to Arthur Guinness to mark 250 years since the signing of the 9,000 year lease on the St. James’s Gate brewery and kick off the beginning of the Arthur’s Day global events.
The "black stuff" is now firmly entangled in the stereotype of boozy Irishness, a love of pubs, a huge capacity for pints and always being ready for a bit of craic (a party).
Like the shamrock, the traditional Guinness harp is inextricably linked to the Emerald Isle and is both the company's trademark and a national emblem.
Guinness may be distinctly Irish, but the celebration of its birth is happening all over the world; parties are being hosted in more than 150 different countries, according to the beermaker's website.
Guinness may be synonymous with Ireland, but Nigerians down more of the stuff than the Emerald Isle, GlobalPost reports. Nigerians got their first taste in the 1940s, and sales have been climbing since.
What gives? It may have something to do with the distinct qualities of Nigerian Guinness. It has twice the alcohol level of its Irish version and is made with local maize and sorghum, not barley. Thanks to enigmatic advertising, it also has the reputation of being liquid Viagra. Says one Nigerian, who's never heard of St. Patrick, "It is bitter, it is good for you, and it gives you power, especially for sexual intercourse.”
Let's raise a glass to 250 remarkable years.
Visiting Ireland you can see everywhere nice Guiness posters. I decided to make a small gallery of them in this post.
