Tom Frawley a Lahinch Icon

Tom Frawley is temporarily indisposed due to some ill health and his pub lies closed and shuttered, perhaps an apt portent of the economy of Ireland currently. The sharp shock that precipitated the closure was as sudden as it was unexpected.

For the moment Tom resides in Ennis General Hospital in good care but somewhat discombobulated by events. He is stoic in acceptance of the events and does not wish to be a burden to anyone. He wishes for a speedy send off.... something that is quite unlikely given his disposition and general health, but it is typical of his generation.

Tom's late found popularity somewhat bemuses him as he sees no great character traits in himself that would have lead to such publicity over the years. It has to be said that he is more droll than anything else and not naturally loquacious. He is not in the mould of Joe Mc Hugh of Liscannor but nonetheless he can offer gems of his own and on occasion, a song, quite out of the blue if persuaded.

The Pub itself is an icon of the village, the spartan shelves, provisions , tea and other products that give a glimpse of the past. The Vintners price list with so many previous entries scribbled out, the lack of ice or garnish with drinks and the simple seating arrangements make it very much an acquired taste for many! On many a busy night in the village Tom Frawley's bar is the oasis of calm where visitors are left to wait for a service that knows no acceleration but delivers at its own pace. "Nothing added, but Time" as the advert states.

Tom saw 90 this past year and was celebrated and revered by his regulars and others in the know. It would be difficult to fathom Tom's emotions on such events as he keeps an almost sage demeanour. He keeps himself to himself on such issues. He will expound a little on church matters and general politics but not to any great depth that might disturb the enquiring soul. Above all else he is a publican and he observes the balance that is required in delivering his opinions.

For now the pub lies closed and we can only hope and pray that Tom may return to resume normal service. His enforced stay in far off Ennis will rankle with his wish to open the pub and get back to the routine. Even after his eye operation he was back in business within hours of his return home to Lahinch.

It would be great to see the shutters come down.... lets raise a glass and wish for it!!

On Golf in the South West

There is a growing trend now to play the more northern links courses in Ireland and forget about the Legacy Links that spread from Lahinch south to Waterville. Some say the price of golf is cheaper up North and that is the main reason. Links fatigue could be another answer. I mean that golfers might not want to admit that they just cant hack the tough terrain of Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee and Waterville anymore!

Such thinking is not the kind that any real golfer would admit to, so it is easire say trite things like " we can get golf for such and such in Ballyliffin" etc. You know the patter and perhaps you are taken in by it.. But consider for a minute the whole package in a place like Lahinch. Golf first of all is played on an old Tom Morris course that was redesigned by Mc Kenzie ... that is a hybrid of Augusta meets St Andrews!!! Who would want to eschew that kind of pedigree for a dew bucks less!!! Then the golf itself is very much part of the village life - you can escape from the second green to the back door of Tom Frawleys bar and be back in time to fuinish out your putt in regulation time!!

Then there is the character of Tom Frawley - an nonogenerian bar tender who has seen it all and runs a quaint old pub that was established in 1839 and that has not had a change except for the provision of a central heating radiator since 1959!! And although he is old and sometimes docile, he may burst into song or regale you with his wisdom in between fits of unannounced sleep while he takes a breather from pulling the half dozen or so pints that his trade demands every hour!!

Go further up main street and you meet the caddy who has toiled for you all day and given you more sound advice than any brokerage on wall street or any economist could garner regarding the turbulent times past or ahead!

The pubs of character and hospitable inns of the likes of Lahinch are seldom replicated elsewhere, especially up North.

So consider the South West for your golfing expedition and start in Lahinch where you will be "cultured" on how to approach the game , life and the weather and you will go on to emulate the very best of golfing bretheren who have known this fact for many years already.

While you are at it - look up Vaughan Lodge where true quality is afforded and affordable to the aspirants of low scores and low handicaps as tey toil there journey through the heavenly links of the South West