An Síbín

An Sibin, Baltimore.

Some of the best food that can be found in Ireland, is found in the country pubs which are the centerpiece of many small towns and villages. Pubs differ from bars in the United States in that while alcohol is served, it is not the main focus of the space. Food, entertainment, and community are the primary reasons people visit these spaces. Located between the towns of Skibereen and the small coastal village of Baltimore, there is a pub tucked away just off the main road known as An Síbín. Pronounced “A shebeen,” the word conceals a rich history of not only pubs in general but Ireland as a whole. Operating clandestinely in rural areas during the 19th and 20th centuries, shebeens served as illegal pubs at a time when strict regulations and heavy taxes governed the sale of alcohol. Many Irish people living in rural areas were unable to afford the high prices set by reputable establishments and retreated to these hidden gems for revelry and socializing. Interestingly, these establishments were often run by women, who brewed the alcohol in their homes, often serving Poitín, an extremely strong alcohol made from potatoes, often referred to as Irish moonshine.

These shebeens became not just a place of conviviality but a place for locals to resist British rule. During the Irish War for independence, the shebeens became a place to gather and hatch plans against the British. These once-joyous and rowdy hidden spots became something more: a place to coordinate the resistance and fight for freedom.

Though the An Síbín of Baltimore is a fully legal drinking establishment in the modern world, its out-of-the-way location and atmosphere pay homage to the An Síbín of the past and the crucial role that they played in the War for Irish Independence.