Drinkers will follow the pint at any price, be it to Heaven or to Hell

The Government’s attempt to curb the sale of cheap alcohol reminded me of one of the many stories my late father told me about the customers of a family pub in Tralee.

One regular, ‘Michael’, arrived at the bar counter at 8pm every evening. He drank three pints of Guinness.

He enjoyed the company, discussing football, greyhounds, horse racing and the news. He then walked to his home, where he lived alone.

Then, the price of a pint was increased from eleven old pence to an old Irish shilling.

When my father broke the bad news about the increase, the drinkers jocosely called down every misfortune on the powers-that-be in Dublin.

Making his way to Michael, Dad asked, “Will you still follow the pint at the new price, Michael?

“My dear man,” replied Michael. “I’ll follow it to Hell. Drinking the juice of the barley in such pleasant company is priceless.”

Michael has long since gone to his eternal rest.

On the evening of Michael’s removal, Dad filled a pint glass with draught Guinness, funnelled it into a bottle, corked it, and wrapped it in a black-and-amber sock (the colours of the local GAA club).

He placed the pint-in-a-bottle alongside Michael’s remains, to quench his thirst on the final journey.

If Guinness flows on tap in Heaven, this Sunday evening Michael will raise a toast, in good company, to the victory of Austin Stacks, The Rock, over Slaughtneil, in the All Ireland Club senior football semi-final at Portlaoise.

Billy Ryle

Spa

Tralee

Co Kerry