An elderly bearded gentleman stood behind the bar and told me, "My advice is for your wife to come in the drink her coffee by the fireplace." My quick stop thinking ceased. And as I looked around and saw the old wood plank walls, bar and bottles both aged 200 years, I became transfigured into a distant past as though I had just returned to the shire. "Yes," I said like Gil Pender who had just stepped from the 21st Century into a 20's Paris bar. I then went out to the car, got my wife, brought her in to this throw back illusion. We sat and ate Irish scones with tea and coffee by the crackling fire that spoke to the soul. Talked to and Irish woman at the next table about our trip to Dingle and the stain glass of Harry Clarke. And after she left we found that she'd paid our bill. What more can be said than this. read more
