South’s bar owner offers peace deal
A former national president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) David Hickey said he was not in the bar when Mr O’Dea called on Saturday night with the Tánaiste Brian Cowen.
Mr O’Dea has been accused of verbally abusing Mr Fahey and Ms Morrissey when they challenged him on his absence from the Dáil vote on Shannon.
Mr Cowen, who had been drinking with Mr O’Dea, had left when the verbal spat erupted.
Mr O’Dea yesterday denied the abuse allegations, although he conceded he may have used the word “feck”.
Mr Hickey, speaking from Portugal where he is on holiday said: “Willie O’Dea, John Fahey and Geraldine Morrissey are all valued customers and are always welcome. Please God when I get back home I’ll be able to get them all in for a drink and I’ll stand the round.”
Nobody will be barred, he said.
South’s is seen as a politically ecumenical pub where politicians from all sides gather and Mr Hickey is a personal friend of many of the best known politicians in the country.
He is still a national executive member of the VFI.
Fine Gael’s Michael Noonan remains a regular as are Limerick TDs Niall Collins, Dan Neville and former senator Michael Finucane.
On his visits to big rugby games in Limerick, former Tánaiste Dick Spring is nearly always to be seen in South’s and teetotaller Albert Reynolds, a close friend of the proprietor, visits for a cup of tea on his way to and from the Listowel races.
The pub is featured in the film Angela’s Ashes.
