On the 3 km walk to town from Tony’s I am often offered a lift from a motorist. On Saturday I was walking by a yard as a white van was pulling out. “Hello I’m Pat Murphy.” Really? Do you know the song? He didn’t so I started singing.
“Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night I’ll never forget
Some of the boys got loaded drunk, and they ain’t got sober yet;
As long as a bottle was passed around every man was feelin’ gay
O’Leary came with the bagpipes, some music for to play
That’s how they showed their respect for Paddy Murphy
That’s how they showed their honour and their pride;
They said it was a sin and shame and they winked at one another
And every drink in the place was full the night Pat Murphy died”.
As I get out of the van Pat says “Thanks for the song.”
Another time a red car pulls up. It’s Joe Daly back from Dublin. “Do you know the Cottage of Con Houlihan?” Con was from Castleisland and considered “the greatest and the best-loved Irish sports journalist of all”. He Wrote a sports column for the Independent. A quick ring to Annie and she tells me it’s the mossy cottage at the top of the bend left side leaving town on the Limerick Road.
John has many stories to tell about Con. His son is the driver and says “Let the man go”. Just one more says John. Thanks for the lift says I, it only took twice as long as the walk. Laughs and hand shakes.
“A man who will misuse an apostrophe is capable of anything”
Con Houlihan
