It is the wine capital of the world but Irish fans in Bordeaux are staying on the beer, with one joking: “We don’t grow grapes in Cork!”
The boys in green have flocked to The Connemara Irish Pub in the picturesque French city ahead of the Republic’s match against Belgium on Saturday.
Bordeaux, which has been described as the “most Irish city in France”, is famous for its wine and is a magnet for connoisseurs.
But the Irish are sticking with the football fans’ drink of choice – pints of beer.
Shane O’Donovan, 25, from Cork, said: “Why would we drink wine when we’re Irish?” While his friend, Colm Ahern, 25, joked: “We don’t grow grapes in Cork!”
But fellow Cork man Cian Galvin, 25, thinks they will turn to wine for financial reasons.
“As the week goes on I guarantee we’ll drink more wine because it’s cheaper,” he said.
The Connemara Irish Pub is selling pints for 4.90 euro and glasses of wine for three euro. Examining his pint, Niall Strumble, 30, from Athlone in County Westmeath, said: “This is not as pretentious for starters … and it’s full bodied.”
His friend Brian Freeman, 33, from, Newbridge in County Kildare, said: “And it’s five for 20 euro. We will do an old wine tour one day and come back later on and get back on the beer.”
Gerry McConvey, 43, from Belfast, joked that he would be “in trouble” if he drank wine like he drank beer, but said: “We’ll give it a wee go.”
His friend, fellow Belfast man Ciaran Marley, 37, agreed, and said: “I love wine. I love my red wine.”
Andy Maloney, 29, from Shannon in County Clare, said he spotted lots of reasonably priced wine in the supermarket.
“A euro for a bottle of wine? Frightening!” he said.