Horses for courses: Murphy’s celebrates 150 years of pints

BYGONE days were recalled yesterday as dray horses made their first appearance on the streets of Cork for four decades.

Peter and William, both Shire horses of around 18 hands, made a majestic sight in Patrick’s Street as they took off on a series of pub visits to commemorate 150 years of Murphy’s Brewery — now Heineken Ireland.

First stop on their tour was Le Chateau, which opened in 1793 and is believed to be one of the oldest pubs in Cork.

The horses, which were brought down from Co Down for the occasion, also visited Canty’s, Counihan’s, the Hi-B, Scott’s, The Long Valley and The Old Oak.

Mick Reidy, who runs Le Chateau with his brother, Dan, said he clearly remembered dray horses making deliveries to the pub in the early 1960s.

The brewery presented him, and the other pub owners, with a special timeline, dating significant events in its history since its foundation in 1856.

A number of Heineken Ireland officials accompanied the horses, including Gerritt Van Loo, the company’s newly appointed managing director.

Today the brewery will host a special dinner for around 100 civic leaders and residents living near their Lady’s Well plant.

Later in the week they are expected to announce details of special competition for the Heineken violin, in conjunction with Cork School of Music.

For those of you who missed the spectacle yesterday, there will be another chance today as the horses visit a number of other pubs in the city centre.

Declan Farmer, head of Heineken’s corporate affairs, said dray horses were last used by the brewery for deliveries in the early 1960s. The cost of a pint then was just 1s and 4d!