Win a Trip to Dublin, Ireland....Or a Gift Card

I have been drinking craft beer now for a number of years but Guinness still tugs at my heartstrings the odd time. It is one of those beers that no matter how huge they get I still can't turn a blind eye on them completely. While it my not be the first, second, or third thing I'd reach for at the pub, a pint of the black stuff sometimes hits the spot bang on.

I had to be reminded that Guinness is celebrating their 250th anniversary this September, and one establishment has set up a contest to give some lucky winner the chance to head to Ireland to take part in all the festivities.

Here is a condensed press release from Fionn MacCool's. **Now, most readers here will now I don't like promoting the large chain pubs, but winning a trip to Ireland would be a great escape from Toronto life right about now. And if you head to the bottom of the press release you'll see that there is also the chance to win another prize.**

Toronto - Fionn MacCool's, a Prime Pubs brand, if offering local beer drinkers the opportunity of a lifetime. In honour of the 250th anniversary of Guinness®, Prime Pubs is running “Passport to Party,” a story-telling contest which encourages local beer lovers to create, and share memorable stories about their favourite Irish pub and Guinness. The contest’s grand prize is a trip to Dublin, the spiritual home of Guinness, to participate in worldwide celebrations marking the milestone on September 24, 2009, Arthur's Day.

To enter, Canadians 19-years-old and over, with a valid passport are invited to visit www.passporttoparty.com and submit a “memorable” story of 500 words or less, which must include a reference to Fionn MacCool’s and Guinness. The more memorable and entertaining the submission the greater the chance of winning. In true Irish story-telling tradition, participants in the “Passport to Party” contest do not need to let the facts get in the way of a good story.

On September 11, five local Fionn MacCool’s pubs along with the eight other participating Prime Pubs in Ottawa, Kingston and Sarnia (Ontario), Calgary (Alberta) and Tempe (Arizona) will hold local competitions with the top five stories entered from their ‘home pub.’ From each local competition, one regional finalist will be selected to represent their pub at the Finals on September 19 at Fionn MacCool’s (The Esplanade location) in Toronto. Regional finalists selected from each pub will be awarded a trip to the Finals in Toronto where they will tell his/her memorable story in front of a judging panel, a live audience and Guinness brewmaster Fergal Murray who will, based on guests’ feedback of the quality and delivery of their tale, present the grand prize.

Two days later, on September 21, the grand prize winner and his/her guest will depart for Ireland spending four nights and five days in Ireland at one of Dublin’s premier hotels. Their visit will be jam-packed with fun activities, including a private tour of St. James Gate Brewery, a $1,500 entertainment voucher and participation in the 250th celebrations.

The Guinness 250 celebrations will begin on September 24 with a global toast to Arthur Guinness and include concerts at St. James Gate Brewery and other venues throughout Dublin.

For complete contest Rules and Regulations for “Passport to Party” please visit http://www.passporttoparty.com/rules-and-regulations.

**Fionn MacCool's has donated one $100 gift card to be used at any of their locations in Ontario and I want to give it away to a reader. All you have to do to receive it is name the well-known American brewer who did a beer dinner last year at the Esplanade location that I attended. Shoot me an email with the answer - the first person to do so gets the card.