Letters

A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes

That’s all, folks

Thu Oct 12 2023 - 00:02

Sir, – Further to Frank McNally’s “A history of Ireland in 100 goodbyes” (An Irishman’s Diary, September 30th), from Dinny, the night porter in the Butler Arms Hotel: “If you all want to stay here you will have to go somewhere else.” – Yours, etc,

PETER DUNN,

Sandymount,

Dublin 4.

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Sir, – I loved my Uncle Jack Hayes’s goodbye: “I’ve been thrown out of better places.” – Yours, etc,

ELVA MURPHY,

Maynooth,

Co Kildare.

Sir, – “You may come in, but you’re not sitting down.” – Yours, etc,

DES MOONEY,

Gorey,

Co Wexford.

Sir, – In The Oak pub in the Cork city of my youth, as Saturday night closing time came and went and the din of urgent conversation continued, our host, the legendary Dan, would bellow: “Too much talking interfering with the drinking.” – Yours, etc,

AIDAN CRONIN,

Dundrum,

Dublin 14.

Sir, – Bartender to Dr Watson: “Have you no Holmes to go to?” – Yours, etc,

SEAMUS McGRATH,

Carrick on Suir,

Co Tipperary.

Sir, – My aunt Vera would say, just as the room lost its warmth, “Sure it’s too late to put more turf on the fire.” – Yours, etc,

NUALA GALLAGHER,

Kiltimagh,

Co Mayo.

Sir, – A friend of mine was tiring of a visitor whom he felt should take his leave.

Getting the hint and holding his whiskey glass, his guest declared, “I’ll go after the next one.” – Yours, etc,

JOHN MURRAY,

Dublin 4.

Sir, – If visitors lingered too long at the fire, my father would open his Irish Times, stand in front of the mantelpiece and rattle the paper vigorously, much to my mother’s chagrin. Only the most determined visitors ignored this signal. – Yours, etc,

ANNA KIRBY,

Mallow,

Co Cork.

Sir, – This topic has long outstayed its welcome and should be bade slán, good luck and farewell. – Yours, etc,

NEIL CRONIN,

Mallow,

Co Cork.