The craic meets Krakow
And the man behind Munster’s second Polish pub, Radek Pilat, said that the omens are good in Cork, even before they open for business.
Radek said: “We paint the bars in the Polish colours, red and white, the same as Cork. So that is a big plus.”
Mr Pilat, 28, held a €200-a-month job as a teacher in his own country before moving to Limerick less than two years ago.
He worked in a local grocery and deli shop before joining up with a number of Limerick businesses to open the Polish Bar in Limerick’s Henry Street three months ago. It’s been packed nearly every night.
Radek said: “We have a lot of Polish customers, particularly at weekends, but during the week it is mostly locals. We have Polish TV and sport and, of course, we sell a wide selection of Polish beers.”
Initially it was all bottled Polish lager, but now they also sell the draught Polish lager, Okocin.
Mr Pilat and his French fiancée, Nathalie, have now moved to Cork to oversee the establishment of the new Polish pub by the Lee.
It was the old Marina bar near the docks area.
He said: “It is slightly bigger than our Limerick bar and it is in a good location. As in Limerick there are many Polish people living and working in Cork. We plan to open for business this weekend.”
Limerick drinkers have found that many of the Polish lagers carry a much higher alcohol density.
One popular mix, known as the Submarine, combines Polish vodka with Polish lager as a chaser.
