Author Archives: Mike Napier

Donleavy was furious. JP and the two boys couldn’t remember when they had seen him so livid. He was literally banging the pints down in front of them. If he were a cartoon character at this moment, then he’d be depicted with steam coming out of every orifice. It didn’t make for relaxed imbibing.  MonoContinue reading “Covidiots”

Donleavy was absentmindedly polishing glasses behind the bar. Well – polishing a glass really. He’d been turning the same glass in his hand for ages. JP, Rasher and Mono were sitting on their stools in their new socially distanced arrangement. This was their ‘new normal’. If anyone had have asked for their elevator pitch onContinue reading “All the worlds a dodgy stage.”

JP, Rasher and Mono were socially distanced at the bar. This was their last night of ‘illegal’ drinking before the phase three easing of the Covid restrictions allowed bars to re-open. Donleavy was busy readying everything for the ‘re-opening’. For a big man it never ceased to amaze how quickly he could cover the groundContinue reading “The Pendulum Swings Wide”

Our three amigos were now in their accustomed Covid-19 social distancing positions at the bar. Three bar-stools. Still in the same order. JP in the middle, flanked by his able lieutenants Rasher and Mono. Big difference was the two-meter distance between them and the bigger fact that the bar was supposed to be shut onContinue reading “Covid Conspiracies.”

‘Different Times.’ ‘Strange Times.’ ‘Jaysus’, shouted Mono, banging his fist so hard on the bar counter that he set up eddy currents in the pints. ‘If I hear one more person talk about the strange and different times – I may commit murder.’ JP looked at Rasher. Rasher looked at JP. JP gave Rasher anContinue reading “The New Normal”

Rasher had a perplexed look about him. Life was clearly throwing him a ball that was drifting away from his fingers. JP had now noted this a few times in the bar mirror’s reflection. He could see Rasher if he angled his view towards the mirror between the ‘Bushmills’ and the ‘Jameson’. Rasher’s knitted browContinue reading “CULTURAL APPROPRIATION”

JP and Mono were sitting at the bar counter in contemplative mood. Nursing their pints. Staring at the mirror behind the bar counter. Well, staring into the middle distance anyway. It was a quiet midweek night and there were very little background pub noises to deflect their thoughts. Donleavy was propped up against his sideContinue reading “Social Conscience”

A Monday night in Donleavy’s. Quiet. Probably no more than a dozen people in the entire pub. The three lads were lined up on their stools in their usual habitat. Someone really should photograph this or paint it for posterity. JP in the middle of the three staring into the bar counter mirror. Rasher lookingContinue reading “Bounce Theory”

It was a Tuesday night in Donleavy’s. The place was empty. You could hear yourself swallowing your pint. Every step that Donleavy took behind the long counter echoed off the ceiling.  To say business was slow was a little like saying snails weren’t built for speed. At one stage Donleavy turned off the lights inContinue reading “Martha’s Vineyard Ghetto”

Saturday night in Donleavy’s. The place was heaving. At this stage I’m sure you’ve gleaned that Donleavy’s is not your ‘run of the mill’ pub. Donleavy’s is special. Not too many places these days with no TVs, no pipe music, no juke box, no vending machines, no pool table, no dart board, no floor service,Continue reading “Mind your Yoga”