Paddy's Day can be savage craic — sometimes a little too savage. And since it falls on a weekend this year, you just know it's going to be a bigger party than usual. If you're looking for someplace to take refuge from the chaos of the city's festivities during the long weekend, or you've already had your fill and just need a cure in the form of an Irish Bloody Mary, locals and tourists alike might want to check out the Irish Craft Beer and Spirits Festival that's happening on March 18. Taking place at House on Leeson Street, which hosted a hugely successful Gin Fair last August, this new festival aims to champion homegrown success stories in the drinks industry by inviting a wide range of beer and spirit producers, who are selling their products both around the country and globally, to showcase their wares this Paddy's weekend. Entry to the over 25s event will be absolutely free and once inside you'll be able to sample Irish gin, whiskeys, beers, non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails from 26 pop-ups and stands spread out around the venue. Should you reach your limit for experimentation, the glasshouse and main bar areas will also be open and serving your old favourites. There's one important thing you need to be aware of: you'll only be able to buy booze with punts. Well, not actual punts, but that's what they're calling the currency at the event and it'll look like old Irish legal tender. You can pick up a booklet of 20 punts for €20 or 30 punts for €30. How much do these punts get you, you ask? Well, glasses of craft beer will be three punts, whiskey neat will be five punts, pints will be five punts, G&Ts or whiskey ginger ales will be seven punts and cocktails will be eight punts.     Throughout the day our national heritage and culture will be celebrated with live music from Irish musicians, with the full schedule, including times and line-ups, being announced later this month. Some whopper prizes will also be given away on the day to a few lucky customers, including a hamper packed with Irish spirits and beers, a weekend stay in House Belfast (House Dublin's recently launched sister venue) and a weekend stay in the beautiful Ballymaloe House in Midleton, Cork. So this festival will have Irish booze, music and free stuff... we're pretty sure some members of our lovely audience might be into that sorta thing.     The Irish Craft Beer and Spirits Festival takes place from 12-8pm (followed by a late bar) on Sunday, March 18 at House, 27 Leeson Street.