Since when have the Irish become such morose whinge-pots? Even before Diageo, the owner of Guinness, invited punters to be in a bar by 5:59 pm on 26 September to raise a glass to Arthur – that’s Arthur Guinness, the brewery’s founder – a growing chorus of critics has called the festivities, which bring together three celebrated strands of Irish culture, namely Guinness, the pub and music, a “national embarrassment”. They argue that it is merely a PR stunt, aimed at promoting the company’s brands, and that there is nothing to celebrate in binge drinking.