Haven't been on the site for a year or two but noticed the Clonard thread and thought I'd mention that the father of a mate of mine (in the mid 60s), Joseph Patrick Walsh, owned the Clonard Bar. I was living in a bedsit in Wolseley St at the time (just off University St or Ave, near Botanic ave.) Joe used to turn up on a Saturday night with a half bottle of whiskey in his pocket and off we'd go to a nurses' dance or the teachers' college up Stran or wherever there was a bit of a dance and the chance of discovering a new Cain and Abel. I also remember Eugene Greenan who worked n a carpet factory downtown. Joe knew a lot of bookies (I just remembered Paddy McCartan) so we'd spend at least one night a week at Celtic or Dunmore and if I won a few quid we'd go off to the Pig and Chicken (which I remember sort of vaguely). I was studying at the Marine Radio College on Eglantine ave close to the Lisburn Rd but jagged it in to go back to Canada (where my family had emigrated in the 50s) to get a BA in arts and parties. I have to say that there were some pretty dissolute times back then; rather a lot of Guinness, Powers and pleasant young ladies with a bit of wit.
