Pauline the pigeon puts on breakfast time show

BREAKFAST time diners at a Limerick coffee shop were sent scattering yesterday morning when one regular went into a tailspin of excitement.

Eyewitnesses, in the Coffee 4 Two bistro in Catherine Street, said the customer they know as ‘Pauline’ went into a sudden flap and banged herself off windows and tables before being ejected by the manager, Brian Hegarty.

Brian said: “She comes in most mornings and usually comes as far as the door. But yesterday she ventured in among the customers and lost the run of herself.”

Pauline - she’s a pigeon - is usually content to pick at bits and pieces of food which fall from tables on the street outside. But yesterday Pauline decided to have a look inside. However, when one customer opened a newspaper, she flew into tizzy.

A bemused customer said: “She tried to make for the window and was flapping her wings furiously and trashing against the glass.

“But Brian managed to persuade her to move back out to her usual haunt outside the door and she flew off.”