Category: Uncategorized

When Leeson Street was the centre of the universe (at least, it was if you wanted an after hours drink)

by paddytm

  I mentioned a few pubs the other day and it seems that I’m not the only one who remembers drinking dens which closed their doors many years ago. But of course, back then, when we drank in those now long gone pubs, we had to leave before midnight, unless we were lucky enough to … Continue reading When Leeson Street was the centre of the universe (at least, it was if you wanted an after hours drink)

How Lá Leathcheann Aibreán in the Ireland of 845 AD became April Fools’ Day all over the world

by paddytm

April’s Fool Day. It’s celebrated, if that’s the right word, all over the world. But there is some dispute as to its origin. There is a belief that if came from the fact that, in the Middle Ages,  New Year’s day was celebrated on March 25th in many European towns with a festival which ended … Continue reading How Lá Leathcheann Aibreán in the Ireland of 845 AD became April Fools’ Day all over the world

Some pubs to which we bade a sad farewell (and maybe a few we don’t actually miss that much!)

by paddytm

Pubs come and go. Sometimes it’s hard to believe when a good pub dies. The Pearl Bar was one such. It was an Irish Times haunt and run by the Weldon family, two of whom were in school with me. Maeve Binchy claimed she liked to visit twice a day. But many Irish Times journalists … Continue reading Some pubs to which we bade a sad farewell (and maybe a few we don’t actually miss that much!)

Pubs: Let’s hope the really great ones survive and return. I’m aching for a pint in Toner’s!

by paddytm

My friend and colleague Roy Curtis wrote a wonderful piece about pubs in the Sunday World at the weekend. It was quite an emotional piece. Roy, like me and many others, enjoys a good pub and not just because the pint might be magnificent, but because the company might also be magnificent.  And if you … Continue reading Pubs: Let’s hope the really great ones survive and return. I’m aching for a pint in Toner’s!

The world’s Top Three Idiotic leaders at this time of crisis. (And you’ve probably already guessed who they are.)

by paddytm

There are many people who could be considered for the title World’s Biggest Covidiot. There are the eejits still socialising on the streets in gangs. The fools cramming people into their homes for drinks parties. And there are the stockpilers who will, hopefully, left with attics or sheds full of loo roll when this is … Continue reading The world’s Top Three Idiotic leaders at this time of crisis. (And you’ve probably already guessed who they are.)

Hymen Lipman. You don’t know who he is but I bet you use some of his inventions. Me? I don’t like the man at all…

by paddytm

Time to get away from the Corinavirus for a little while… There are two very important anniversaries in March, anniversaries ignored by most people. It was on March 20, 203 years ago, that Hymen Lipman was born. The name probably doesn’t ring a bell. But there is little doubt that, at some point in their … Continue reading Hymen Lipman. You don’t know who he is but I bet you use some of his inventions. Me? I don’t like the man at all…

We’ve been rumbled. There IS a media conspiracy in Ireland…

by paddytm

Dammit. We’ve been rumbled. I’ve seen a few people on the internet in the last few days complaining about the ‘media conspiracy” in this country. Normally, I’d just laugh it off. But it’s time to come clean. They’re right. Of course there’s a conspiracy. There always has been. Sure I was only in the Indo … Continue reading We’ve been rumbled. There IS a media conspiracy in Ireland…