The surge in popularity in London of Ireland’s most famous stout will likely be studied in years to come. Once the domain of Irish immigrants and older drinkers, Guinness has exploded in popularity over the past five years, particularly in the British capital. The brand’s owner, the multinational drinks group Diageo, now wants to capitalise on this craze with a towering bricks-and-mortar marketing monument right in the heart of London’s nightlife district. The project, however, was almost derailed until another historic contributor to the British economy came to the rescue: Irish builders. There have been an array of influences that…