Guinness’s 250th birthday party to go global at 17.59

IRELAND will become the centre of worldwide celebrations this week when the unofficial national beverage celebrates its 250th birthday.

At 5.59pm on Thursday September 24 – more appropriately referred to as 17.59 by Guinness drinkers – publicans will brace themselves for a barrage of “farmer”, “martha”, “barber” and “llama” jokes from the TV ad as customers help celebrate Arthur’s Day.

The accuracy of the date – which supposedly marks the anniversary of the first pint of Guinness – has been questioned, with a widespread belief that the landmark event is an attempt to create a surge in sales of the drink.