Polish pub the toast of Limerick

A POLISH pub just opened in Limerick is already the toast of the city.

Strong Polish beers are going down a treat at the Bialo-Czerwoni (The Red and White) in Henry Street.

Poles working in the city are finding it a home from home social oasis.

And locals, according to Radek Pilat who runs the Bialo-Czerwoni, are quaffing his Polish beers with relish. He runs the pub with his French-born fiancée, Nathalie Ouzzane.

Radek came from Poland to work in Limerick 18 months ago.

He said: "The Irish pubs are very popular in Poland and we feel a Polish pub will be popular here. There are now more than 3,000 Polish people in the Limerick area and I felt there was a need for a pub where they could enjoy Polish beer, Polish TV and Polish music." However, he has been surprised at how popular the pub has become in just a few days among locals. "We stock all Irish beers and four of the most popular Polish beers. One Polish, beer, called Okacim, is already very popular with Irish customers. It is very strong. We sold out of it on Sunday and had to get extra supplies from our supplier."

Radek, who has a masters degree, worked as a teacher in Poland before leaving for Ireland. "My salary as a teacher was €200 a month. It was very hard to get by and I had to do other work."

Radek said he has Polish TV via satellite and this is a very big draw with Polish people living in Limerick. He said they can come in keep up to date with all the news and sports stories from home.

"We play Polish music on the stereo system, but it is my hope to bring live entertainers from Poland when we get more organised." Radek said Irish people had been very helpful to him since he came to live and work in Limerick. "I first worked in Gleeson's shop in Catherine Street. My English was not very good, but customers were very polite and told me not to worry and to relax."

While at present he stocks bottled Polish beer, he plans to get in some of the more popular draft Polish beers.

The local newspaper, the Limerick Leader, recently commenced a weekly column in Polish.