An Anglican establishment
Arthur’s Day is upon us. With a Godfather who was Bishop of Cashel, and endowments to St Patrick’s Cathedral and its school, there might be more of the ethos of anglicanism in the brewery than in some places where you might have a right to expect it!642-775
Less of that now…
Eibhlin Roche, a 33-year-old from Tralee, Co Kerry, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Guinness and its famous family. A full-time archivist at the Guinness Storehouse, she is paid to uncover yet more details about the Guinnesses and their world-famous drink.
“There’s the first Arthur’s original dwelling house” — she points to a handsome brick building adjoining James Street — “and these are the narrow-gauge tracks that were laid in the 1880s. Guinness had its own internal rail system for years.”
A trained historian with a special interest in the ladies of the Land League movement, Eibhlin has worked as archivist at Guinness for 10 years. “So much of Irish history is bound up with this company,” she says, “and it does have a place in the hearts of many people in a way that other firms just wouldn’t.”
The following tidbits represent a potted history of Guinness as gleaned from an afternoon in Eibhlin’s company.
Arthur’s Day — the marketing extravaganza dreamed up by Diageo — takes place on September 22, but don’t assume this date marks the birthday of the brewery’s founder. Although he’s among the most celebrated of all Irishman, Arthur Guinness’s precise date of birth is not known: it is thought that he was born sometime in early 1725.
In 1752, when he was 27, Arthur’s godfather, Arthur Price, Bishop of Cashel, bequeathed him £100 in his will. This money was spent acquiring a brewery in Leixlip, Co Kildare, where young Arthur cut his teeth in the beer business.
Arthur’s wife, Olivia Whitmore, was Henry Grattan’s first cousin. Unlike the hugely politicised Grattan, Arthur Guinness largely kept his political views to himself. His Church of Ireland faith was strong, however, and he contributed 250 guineas to the chapel schools of St Patrick’s, beginning a long-standing relationship between the Guinness family and the venerable cathedral.
Arthur and Olivia were married in St Mary’s Church, in Dublin’s north inner city, in 1761 — two years after he signed the celebrated 9,000-year lease on the St James’s Gate brewery. Perhaps appropriately, St Mary’s now trades as a pub.
Arthur and Olivia had 21 children. Only 10 survived into adulthood, including Arthur Jnr, their second eldest son, who would succeed his father as head of the brewery.
Arthur’s grandson, Benjamin Lee Guinness, was Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1851 and was later elected MP to the House of Commons. He provided £150,000 for the restoration of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Black Velvet — the decadent cocktail that’s two-parts champagne, one-part Guinness — was reputedly created in 1861 at the Brooke’s Club, London, to mark the death of Prince Albert. Legend has it the steward of the club ordered even sparkling wine should be in mourning, hence the addition of Guinness “black”.
In 1862, the harp logo was used for the first time. The inspiration was taken from the Brian Boru harp at Trinity College. It was trademarked in 1876. The official emblem of Ireland is also based on the Brian Boru harp, but its back faces the other way.
Guinness first started advertising in 1929. It employed London agency Benson’s to create its colourful billboards featuring a menagerie of animals including the toucan, which would become emblematic with the brand. The posters were hand-painted by the English artist, John Gilroy, and a handful of slogans — especially ‘Guinness is Good for You’ — entered the vernacular.
The company did not advertise in Ireland until 1959 — the year of its bicentenary. Older readers may remember the first Guinness advertising strap-line used in this country: ‘200 years of Guinness. What a lovely, long drink’. An Post issued a 3p stamp featuring Arthur to commemorate the occasion.
And by now you might be thinking that this writer has spent a lifetime imbibing the black stuff. Its not my tipple and less than pint has been sampled.642-770
The above is mainly the work of John Meagher of The Irish Independent.
Never judge a book – or a bottle by its cover!
Houston McKelvey