Mike Villa - Pints and Power (Page 2)

The Guinness Glass as Vessel, Memory, and Ritual

Before the first sip, a pint of Guinness is more than a drink—it’s a pause, a memory, a ritual held in glass. From the Top Shelf Glass Crew’s cherished vessels to the quiet controversy of a redesign, discover why the glass you hold matters as much as the stout inside.

A blonde female singer at the mic, a bearded man, sitting and playing the guitar rocking the music from the stage

pub culture

Last Night at the Local: Music, Friendship, and a Shout-Out from the Stage

Last night at Bolands had it all—live music, laughter, and an unexpected shout-out for “Pints and Power” from the stage. Some Fridays just turn into stories you’ll be telling for years.

behind the book

Raise a Glass: Pints and Power Launches at Boland’s

September 9th in Worcester we're holding the official launch party for Pints and Power. Open to the Public.

A rendered image of Michael Collins in a pub, with two glasses of Guinness on a table and one empty bottle, men in shadows in the background. "Michael Collins, Pubs and Pints of Guinness"

irish history

Michael Collins, a Pint, and the Power of the Pub

Marking 103 years since Béal na Bláth—how Guinness and the pub framed a revolution.

guinness

House of Guinness is Coming. Are You Ready?

House of Guinness will pour the scandal. Pints and Power pours the story beneath the foam — history, rebellion, belonging, and me.

First Pour Member Only

Final Words to Paper (for now)

Check out my latest update on the process along with an excerpt that turned out to be the very last words I added to the special "First Pour Early Release Edition"

A creamy pint of Guinness in the foreground. Liverpool FC players in action. Supporters in the background. Diogo Jota in fading.

Reds, Rivals, and a Perfect Pint

There’s an old joke: “What are the two major religions in Ireland today?” The answer? “Manchester United and Liverpool.”

The First Pour Is for You

Why I’m starting small, printing local, and sharing early

Kindred Spirits - Arthur Guinness II and Daniel O’Connell - Contributing to Irish and Catholic Dignity and Rights

irish history

Kindred Spirits, Divided Paths

A Quiet Toast to O’Connell at 250 — and the Brewer Who Once Stood Beside Him

Headline: The Citadel of the Irish Pub - Photos of Kitty O'Se's, John Cleere, John Kehoe, Bolands, photos of all four Irish Pubs.

pub culture

The Citadel of the Irish Pub: Why the Name on the Door Matters

Not just a fortress, but a refuge, a relationship, and a ritual.

behind the book

The First Full Draft Is Done

The first full draft of Pints and Power is complete—122 pages, 11 chapters, and a story that pours through history, identity, and belonging. The pint has settled. The next round begins.

Remembrance

Sinéad O’Connor and the Ritual of Truth: “There Has to Be Remembering”

On this day of remembering Sinéad O’Connor, we reflect not just on the voice she gave us—but on the silence she shattered. In Famine, she reframed the story of the Great Hunger with urgency and care. Her song wasn’t just protest. It was grief made ritual—where truth begins to heal.

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