Author Archives: Mike Napier

The three lads – JP, Mono and Rasher – were seated at the bar counter and awaiting the first delivery of the night. Donleavy was finishing off the pints with all the attention, skill, and care of a master craftsman. Each of our three amigos had their heads angled in his direction following every delicateContinue reading “COVERING IT UP”

There was no need to pull the curtains in Donleavy’s Pub. The evenings had drawn in on themselves and the darkness had wrapped around another layer so much earlier than before. It seemed incredible how it had been bright up to 10:30pm only a few short weeks ago and now it was pitch black atContinue reading “ADVANCED SOCIETY.”

It was one of those very unlike summer evenings where the rain was belting off the windows in Donleavy’s pub. The clientele was quite relaxed on their barstools and in their chairs. There was something about being in a pub when the weather was inclement. Perhaps it tended towards a less guilty mind. I meanContinue reading “ITS NOT THAT HARD. REALLY.”

It was a Thursday night in Donleavy’s in the middle of a relatively hot spell of weather. The bar takings would be down. Everyone was off at the beach or the lake or the BBQ in the back garden. Only the faithful were still ‘practising’ at the bar counter. Numbered among those faithful were JP,Continue reading “POPULAR TODAY”

The atmosphere in Doneavy’s was relaxed. The days were getting longer and warmer. The daylight was still streaming through any windows that Donleavy hadn’t curtained off. Everyone’s spirits were lifted a little with the advent of Summer. The daffodils had announced their arrival and then been dead-headed weeks ago. Early crops of potatoes were givingContinue reading “TIME TO ACT”

JP, Mono and Rasher sat in their time-honoured positions at the bar counter. It was midweek. The bar was quiet. The three amigos were quiet. Each looked down into the creamy surface of their pint. Each in his own way waiting for that catalyst to materialise out of the pint glass and infuse the conversation.Continue reading “TECHNICALLY SPEAKING”

JP, Rasher and Mono settled themselves on their bar stools. The drinks had already been signalled to Donleavy who was midway through that magical exercise of filling pint glasses with the black stuff. Any anxiety of a delay in the receipt of incoming was therefore dispelled and the three lads could content themselves with buttockContinue reading “IN ANOTHER LIFE.”

Middle of December in Donleavy’s. The place was jointed with people. The purse strings were obviously beginning to loosen. The pub was rocking. You could hardly hear yourself think. Donleavy was up and down behind the bar like a man on roller skates. You would have expected the man – even with his bulk –Continue reading “HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO”

It was a Wednesday night in Donleavy’s at the start of December. The pub was quiet. People were clearly hoarding their money for a pre-Christmas splurge. Pennies were being piled up to commit to excessive drinking, shouting, contrived good humor and general innocent misbehavior blamed on the speedy journey of ethanol to the brain. OneContinue reading “FRIENDSHIP ARMAGEDDON AVOIDED”