Spent a few days in Virginia, or Achadh an Iúir, here in Co. Cavan, and sampled 2 or 3 of the pubs on the main street here, but it's the Whistle Stop I remember the best.
It's a fairly basic interior, a good point of Guinness, the group of us that were here working at the nearby Ramor Theatre, included my friends father & his new woman!
It was quieter in here than the pub that doubled as the undertakers opposite, and we sat down by the window with a feast of different flavours of 'tayto's' to go with the drinks. A local chap came and sat next to us apparently surprised that we'd chosen this pub. It was good natured & he'd clearly had a few, but it seemed he was thinking to have some fun at our expense.
However he'd reckoned without the calibre of my friends dad, a powerful force of a man called Christy from neighbouring Co. Leitrim. Christy squared up to this Cavan man not with any undignified aggression, but with some very funny jokes at Cavan's expense, to which this Cavan fella gave us a very funny tale taking a gentle swipe a Leitrim.
Before we knew it they were exchanging songs, it was nothing less than a Cavan versus Leitrim singing match going on in here!
There were tears momentarily in Christy's eyes as he recited a poem about his lovely Leitrim home, and his opponent was equally eloquent & emotional in a similar recitation. Each of them with the determination of a prize fighter, put everything into this impromptu tournament, and a huge mutual respect shone out.
I think Leitram won that match, particularly as the reserves were called in the form of his daughter singing a knock-down gorgeous version of 'How Are Things In Glocca Morra? Even some bored lads had abandoned the pool table as they were so taken with her! read more
