Author Archives: Mike Napier

It was a Saturday night in Donleavy’s. The crowd was beginning to thicken. JP, Mono and Rasher always had a virtual corridor of space around them at the bar. The majority of Donleavy’s clientele were regulars and – as such they knew that a fate worse than death awaited anyone who might sit on oneContinue reading “SOMETIMES THE FROGS NEED TO TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM.”

The three lads – JP, Mono and Rasher – were seated comfortably at the bar counter in Donleavy’s. The weather had equilibrated back to normal after the searing heat of the previous week. Our three amigos had also settled back to a rhythm that suited them. Certainly, their buttocks had relaxed on the bar stoolsContinue reading “MAN SUES FOR GENDER EQUALITY”

The three lads were lined up at the bar counter in the usual fashion. JP in the middle flanked by Rasher and Mono. They were weathered looking and their shoulders were more hunched than was normal. Each of them looked intently at Donleavy with a serious stare. It was as if the ritual art ofContinue reading “RECESSION WILL BE THE MAKINGS OF THEM.”

Tuesday nights were the quietest nights of the week in Donleavy’s. Mondays competed for the title but there were always a few hardy people with some money left over from the weekend – or a few Sunday hangovers that somehow believed that the hair of the dog was the appropriate answer. Anyway – by TuesdayContinue reading “Disruptive Technologies on a Tuesday Night.”

JP was flanked at the bar counter in the usual arrangement by Mono and Rasher. Three bar stools that had the curvature of specific buttocks worn into them over decades of occupation. Three bar stools that no one else in Donleavy’s pub would ever have the temerity to borrow or take up. Donleavy’s was absolutelyContinue reading “HOMES IN A CRISIS”

The three lads were seated in their usual location at the bar counter in Donleavy’s. The atmosphere was calm and casual. There was a quiet hum of voices in the pub. That was as loud as it ever got in Donleavy’s. Not a decibel higher. Donleavy was never going to allow piped music or TVsContinue reading “BLIND FAITH”

JP, Rasher and Mono were comfortably installed on their stools at Donleavy’s. Three creamy pints settling nicely in front of them. Their stools were separated from each other just a tad extra than how they normally would have been arranged. I mean to say – the lads had to make sure that they gave offContinue reading “ANYONE NOTICED THAT IT’S A PANDEMIC?”

It was getting a bit déjà vu in Donleavy’s pub. Another one of those restriction moves to combat the ‘Rona Virus. Donleavy had continued to serve illicit pints to his chosen customers all the way through the pandemic and this restriction – nearly two years later – sure as hell wasn’t going to change anything.Continue reading “WHAT’S IN A NAME?”

It was a momentous day in Donleavy’s pub. Another one of those iconic days that one would write into the history of this wonderful establishment. Donleavy had continued to serve illicit pints to his chosen customers all the way through the pandemic. Didn’t matter what Greek letter they were putting in front of the nastyContinue reading “PEOPLE POWER”

JP, Mono and Rasher were again to be found in the back yard of Donleavy’s pub seated in garden chairs around massive electrical cable drums acting as tables. Three creamy pints settled in front of them. Donleavy waltzed through the various cable drums dispensing good humour and pints in equal measure. He was like aContinue reading “A BAR OF SOAP”