LAST UPDATE | 51 mins ago

THE TEMPLE BAR, Dublin city centre’s tourist magnet, installed a giant statue of St Patrick raising a pint of Guinness this morning.

But it’s been an emotional rollercoaster for poor St Patrick in his new home, which is set to be thronged with revellers next month.

Workmen installing the new statue this morning. Skyline Webcams Skyline Webcams

Shortly before 10.30am, the workmen who had installed the statue – which looks to be at least 10 foot tall – covered St Patrick’s pint with a plastic bin bag. It certainly puts a new spin on the term ‘the black stuff’.

An hour later, workmen upgraded the bin bag to an altogether snazzier green cloth to hide the offending article.

By 11.30am the pint was covered in a green cloth. Skyline Webcams Skyline Webcams

Our reporter asked The Temple Bar’s manager what was going on. 

“We’re just going to make a few changes to it, because obviously it’s only up now,” he said.

Plastic, Paddy? St Patrick's pint covered up. Kate Henshaw / The Journal Kate Henshaw / The Journal / The Journal

The manager added that the pub always does this when they put up outdoors decorations, including at Christmas. Giant St Patrick was made by an Irish artist in Co Monaghan.

A pint of Guinness will set you back €10.95 in The Temple Bar so it’s possible Ireland’s patron saint couldn’t afford it.

Crowds outside the pub on St Patrick's Day 2023. Skyline Webcams Skyline Webcams

We assume the covered pint is not going to be a permanent decorative feature, so perhaps it will be prised from St Patrick’s hand in the coming days or even hours? More as we get it.

With reporting by Nicky Ryan.