Shebeen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chiefly in Ireland and Scotland, a shebeen is an illicit bar or club where excisable alcoholic beverages are sold without a licence. Shebeens are also common in southern Africa where they are run by local people. In Namibia, such an establishment is known as a Cuca Shop.

In America, the word shebeen saw general use by Irish immigrants who worked in the anthracite patches of Pennsylvania. One of the leaders of the Molly Maguires was a shebeen-keeper, hanged in Scranton.

The word is of Irish origin, spelt síbín in Irish Gaelic, though its etymology is obscure.

The Shebeen is also a popular restaurant in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is a gathering spot for soccer fans on the days of key matches. The same applies for the Shebeen Pub in Vienna, Austria. A bar called The Shebeen is also a popular French nightspot in Paris, holding regular open-mic nights where prominent members of the Parisian Indie music scene gather. Molly's Shebeen Pub and Restaurant on 3rd Avenue in New York City is another popular local hangout.