P: Thanks, Cashell, that's exactly what we...oh, hi Seamus.

S: Hello Patrick. Well, hello there, Akiko...we haven't see much of each other lately, have we?

A: （ANXIOUSLY）Oh, I am sorry. It's because of school, I think. I am taking a lot of classes, but I really enjoy them!

S: No worries. Did Patrick bring you in for the craic?

A: Please tell me again what it means?

P: It's...

C: It's friends having a good conversation in a pub. Well, friends means you – the only thing you're missing is the drinking.

S: I'll have a pint, Cashell.

P: I'll have an Irish Whiskey.

C: On the way gentlemen. And what will you be having?

A: Um, a pint of stout please?

C: A pint of stout for the lady.

P: （TO AKIKO）So, what would you learn in Irish culture class today?

A: We studied beer.

C: （LAUGHING）

P: I'm going to take that class!

C: I'm going to teach that class!

S: Now, wait a moment, beer is one of our national treasures, so I'm curious – what was the most remarkable fact?

A: Remarkable…?

P: Unusual, or very interesting, or worth talking about.

A: Oh, I see. Well, we studied about the history of Guinness.

C: （JOINS THEM AT THE BAR）I think I'm going to join you.

S: So, Akiko, what impressed you the most?

A: To be honest, I didn't understand the taste of Guinness, at first.

P: So part of the class involved drinking? That's it, I'm going!

A: No, no, I mean when I tried it in Tokyo. But, now, I like it very much. It tastes so smooth, and healthy! And, in the class, they told us that it is one of the most popular beers in the world.

C: It even surprised me.

A: We enjoy it even in Tokyo.

S: Well, that's no surprise: it's one of our favorite subjects. You know that 10 million pints a day are sold around the world?

A: 10 million, let's see, that's （ええっと、1,000万かな？）– wow!

S: And there's more. What if somebody asks you what's so Irish about Guinness: what would you tell them?

A: Um...

S: Besides the taste, what makes it the national drink?

A: Well...when I read about it in the guidebook, it is like something from history.

S: It is. See, Arthur Guinness first brewed stout here in 1759 – and we've had it throughout the history of Ireland, from the difficult times during the wars and the famines...

C: When it helped people to feel that something was right with the world.

S: To what they call in the papers a cultural and economic renaissance. Which we're enjoying, right now!

P: But, what about the great debate?

S: Now, there's a question for you. They say the Guinness is better in Ireland-but our expert brewers say there's no difference anywhere in the world...Now mind, you, I think a pint brings the taste of the Irish anywhere you drink it.

A: Well, maybe...

C / P / S: Yes?

A: Maybe the reason Guinness seems to taste so good here is because…we're drinking it in Ireland!