Is “Splitting The G” The Only Way Londoners Know How To Celebrate Irish Culture?
With St Patrick’s Day officially here, Londoners are dusting off their shamrocks and making the annual pilgrimage to their nearest Guinness serving pub. Step inside any local today and you will likely see the same sight of a bar lined up with rows of stout being stared down by eager crowds. It’s harmless fun, sure, and a ritual I will likely be shamelessly partaking in. But as wait times for a Guinness reach an all-time high, it begs the question: Has London’s appreciation for Irish culture shrunk to just one letter on a pint glass?
The “Splitting The G” phenomenon
What started as a niche social media trend has transformed into a full-blown cultural obsession. To successfully “Split the G”, one must simply drink exactly enough so the foam rests in the middle of the logo’s harp-adjacent “G” on the first sip. Mastering the perfect “G-split” quickly became one of the internet’s fastest-growing trends, driving Guinness sales through the roof and inspiring a whole new generation of stout drinkers. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that London pubs faced a whole Guinness shortage as a result of the sudden increase in demand, with some even introducing ration cards to limit orders.
Step into the likes of The Devonshire or The Toucan on any given weekend, and you will find the bar is a constant assembly line of settling stouts. A pint of Guinness seems to have become more than a beverage, but rather, the pub’s most desirable accessory, instantly earning you kudos from the crowd.
Mastering the perfect ‘G-split’ quickly became one of the internet’s fastest growing trends, putting the stout firmly back on the map and inspiring a whole new generation of drinkers.
Irish fever
Of course, it isn’t just Guinness that seems to have Londoners in a chokehold. Our current obsession with the Irish has bled into every corner of pop culture. Whether we are binge-watching Normal People or Derry Girls, singing our hearts out at the Irish bar, or fangirling over Cillian Murphy and Paul Mescal, it appears Ireland currently holds a monopoly on our collective attention. This sudden infatuation can feel like a seismic shift for a community that has spent decades facing ostracisation in this very city.
Whether we are binge-watching Normal People or fangirling over Paul Mescal, Ireland currently holds a monopoly over our collective attention.
It appears we have entered a phase in which Londoners cherry-pick the most Instagrammable parts of Irish culture while turning a blind eye to other aspects of its history. And while I am casting no judgment, being guilty myself of falling into this category, I would like to raise the thorny question – Can we claim to love a culture if we only show up for the party and ignore the struggle?
Cherry-picking Irish culture
While in many ways this romanticisation undeniably boosts Irish representation, it can also serve as a historical vacuum. To celebrate the drinking culture, TV shows and celebrity heartthrobs while bypassing the struggle can serve as a delicate form of erasure, especially when many of these things were forged in the fires of colonialism, famine, and forced emigration. Even the very pubs now being aestheticised on social media were once the only communal refuges for a population facing systemic displacement.
“There’s a fine line between appreciation and appropriation,” says Kitty, The Handbook‘s Social Media Manager, with Irish heritage. “Even if it’s just reading some history, and most importantly, thinking about how we can take it further into the future. If you love an Irish artist, they’re normally pretty vocal about political issues in their speeches or on social media, so hear them out and take an interest in the causes they speak about, as well as listening to their albums or watching their films.”
There’s a fine line between appreciation and appropriation. If you love an Irish artist, they’re normally pretty vocal about political issues in their speeches or on social media, so hear them out.
Kitty, Social Media Director
Given the recent history between London and Ireland, cherry-picking can feel like selective fun, glossing over the tougher history. Of course, Ireland is not a monolith of tragedy merely defined by the atrocities it has faced. It is brimming with a vibrant culture that deserves to be celebrated for its joy. However, if we are going to invite Irish culture into our homes, we owe it the respect of a full conversation that expands beyond our watchlists, wardrobes and weekend plans.
In previous years, I have leaned into my rather tenous familial tie to County Cork, ordered a Guinness, failed miserably to “Split the G” and gone forth into the night, belting Hozier in the Irish pub. While I remain steadfast in the belief that this is, in many ways, a St Paddy’s day well spent, this year I’m aiming for more. I’m trading the performative pint for a bit of actual perspective, expanding my celebrations to include a much-needed education in Irish history and culture.
Our St Paddy’s Day itinerary
When it comes to celebrating Irish culture in all its richness this year, our Style & Interiors Editor Ashling, puts it best: “Once featured in films as either lovable rogues or dodgy-accented bad guys, today, the Irish are delivering some of the greatest films, music and TV shows. Today, we are being recognised for our vivacity, steely determination, and, obviously, our love of a few drinks. On Jessie Buckley‘s recent Oscars win – the first Irish woman to do so – she laughed, ‘Don’t go to bed – keep partying!’ We are a nation full of tight families, love and life. So yes, this year feels like one hell of a year to properly celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Go ahead and split the G. I will be.”
Once featured in films as either lovable rogues or dodgy-accented bad guys, today, the Irish are delivering some of the greatest films, music and TV shows. We are being recognised for our vivacity, steely determination, and, obviously, our love of a few drinks.
Ashling, Contributing Style & Interiors Editor
Here is our short guide on how to celebrate, complete with screenings, folk bands, film screenings and of course, a pint of Guinness or two.
Go on this walking tour
Rebel Tours is marking St. Paddy’s by hosting a walking tour through London, which will celebrate Ireland’s greatest contributions to the city. From Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker to revolutionaries and key figures in Ireland’s fight for freedom, like Daniel O’Connell, the tour will explore London’s history through a whole new lens.
Commencing close to the British Parliament, where the conversation will cover the Easter Rising and Ireland’s War of Independence, the walk will then traverse through London, finishing in Soho, a place where many Irish families settled following the Great Hunger of the 1840s.
Where: Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3BD
Website: www.rebeltours.com
Pay this Irish bar a visit
One of London’s most beloved Irish pubs, Nancy Spains, is celebrating the spirit of Ireland in the heart of the city on March 17th. With live music starting at 3pm, it promises a day of tradition, connection and world-class craic. Its curated lineup of artists will include soulful ballads and high-octane jigs, to be enjoyed with a stout or whiskey firmly in hand. The festivities will be taking place at both its Shoreditch and Monument branches.
Nancy Spains promises a day of tradition, connection, and world-class craic.
Where: 128-130 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, EC2A 3AQ / 143 Fenchurch Street,
Monument, EC3M 6BL
Website: www.nancyspains.com
Irish Cultural Centre
The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith has a whole lineup of events to get involved with all month long. Established in 1995, the spot is widely considered the premier venue for Irish heritage and arts in the UK.
Among the highlights in its St Patrick’s Day schedule is a screening of Dónal Lunny: In Time, and live music from the acclaimed five-piece Irish folk band, Some One’s Sons.
The Irish Cultural Centre is widely considered the premier venue for Irish heritage and arts in the UK.
Where: 5 Black’s Rd, London W6 9DT
Website: www.irishculturalcentre.com
Visit Daffodil Mulligan
Daffodil Mulligan is getting into the Irish spirit with limited-edition menu items and live music in its basement bar, Gibney’s. Choose from specials like the 24-hour simmered lamb “Irish style” or the Cavan cured ham, all to be washed down with an expertly poured pint of Guinness.
Throughout St. Patrick’s week, Gibney’s hosts live music nearly every night, plus special treats like free oysters on Tuesday the 17th.
Where: 70-74 City Rd, London EC1Y 2BJ
Website: www.daffodilmulligan.com
Read our full list of the best Irish pubs in London
