ImaStory
From Ireland to England and back again Author: Daniel M Doyle
This is a collection of stories, incidents, situations and encounters which celebrate the buzz and mighty craic of Irish, and particularly Dublin, life - social, business, cultural and sporting.
Shared Chapters
How I changed from English to Irish during three rugby matches
Friday, October 01, 1965 to Wednesday, October 01, 1975
My metamorphosis from English man to Irish man took place between the ages of 10 and 14. In the early 1960s, my father brought me to my first England v Ireland rugby match in London. I was then supporting England but I didn’t mind if Ireland won because I did not want my father to be unhappy. It was a magnificent experience, one which has left an indelible impression on me. Our seats, which were just in front of the touchline, were positioned a couple of feet below the level of the pitch; as a result, whenever play came near, the players seemed like giants, except for the English r ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Monday, August 11, 2014, 5:56:00 PM
- updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:11:00 AM
How I became Dublin English
Wednesday, October 01, 1975 to Tuesday, October 01, 1985
I was born in London in 1952 to Irish born parents. They both came from Monkstown, a pretty village on Cork harbour about eight miles from Cork city. It was here that I spent my first twenty summers. This wonderful experience caused me to view Ireland through rose-tinted glasses for ever more.
Before the opening of Cork airport, in 1961, our annual pilgrimage started on a train from Paddington Station, in London. It took us to Fishguard, a port on the Welsh coast. Then we boarded the Innisfallen ferry, which passed Monkstown on its way up the river Lee to the docks in Cork city. The first p ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 4:53:00 PM
- updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:48:00 AM
The Cork connection & The Hi-B
Sunday, October 01, 1995 to Saturday, October 01, 2005
I regard the Hi-B bar to be a family gem. It must be treasured, jealously guarded and passed down the generations. Established in 1923 and originally named The Hibernian, my father must have been a patron of this establishment since its first beginnings. He was born in 1897 and spoke fondly of his time spent here, sometimes before and after a visit to Cork opera house. In the 1930’s he moved to England with the Ford motor company but a visit to the Hi-B was a mandatory part of our annual summer pilgrimage back to Cork.
The Hi-B is situated on the first floor of the junction of Oliver ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 5:29:00 AM
- updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:04:00 AM
A Rugby day-out in Dublin - lunch in the clubhouse and a view from the bar
Tuesday, October 01, 1985 to Sunday, October 01, 1995
A Rugby day-out in Dublin - lunch in the clubhouse and a view from the bar
The agenda for the day commenced at about 12.30pm with pre-lunch drinks in the club bar. A gong was struck at 1.15pm. Members and their guests then moved to the function room for a fairly formal lunch. This was followed by, hopefully, short but witty speeches from the respective presidents of the home and away clubs.
The lunch finished at two-forty-five – fifteen minutes before kick-off. The more enthusiastic supporters donned their overcoats and went to stand by the side of the pitch in order to give close, ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Tuesday, October 06, 2015, 5:25:00 AM
- updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:01:00 AM
A Donegal Encounter
Wednesday, October 01, 1975 to Tuesday, October 01, 1985
Fact can often appear to be well written fiction. How many times have we heard the expression “You couldn’t make this stuff up.” A few years ago I experienced one of these wonderful moments.
It occurred in “Iggy’s” pub in Kincasslagh, on the west coast of Donegal. This remote place has two famous sons, Daniel O’Donnell (a very popular country and western crooner) and Packie Bonner (a famous and long serving Irish International soccer player).
This is a beautiful and magical part of the world. The road to Kincasslagh is narrow and undulating. This ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Thursday, October 15, 2015, 5:49:00 AM
- updated: Thursday, October 15, 2015 5:53:00 AM
Free speech is alive and well and living in Grogan’s
Wednesday, October 05, 2016 to Saturday, October 15, 2016
Grogan’s Castle Lounge is located on South William Street. This is not a wide street but from its pavement grand stonework steps lead up to the magnificent eighteenth-century Powerscourt House. A few yards further down this street, on the other side of it, stands Grogan’s.
It was Saturday evening at around 6pm when I entered this fine establishment. This was twilight time – the crossover between the business of the day and the night. The space was shared by shoppers and regular drinkers. The shoppers were rewarding themselves after a hard day’s procurement. Many were ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Saturday, October 15, 2016, 9:55:00 AM
- updated: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:11:00 AM
Why do you want to be an Accountant?
Wednesday, October 05, 2016 to Saturday, October 15, 2016
This question was often asked of me while I attempted to get my first “serious” job. It was a difficult, philosophical question to answer. Looking back on those times, I wonder if the enquirer had asked it because he could not remember why he himself had chosen to become an accountant. Nearing retirement, the job interviewer hoped that this young, fresh-faced interviewee might retrospectively give meaning and justification to the previous thirty years of his working life. Unfortunately, there was no blinding flash of wisdom from the mouth of this babe accountant.
Shortly after I ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Saturday, October 15, 2016, 10:03:00 AM
- updated: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:11:00 AM
What's so funny?
Wednesday, October 05, 2016 to Saturday, October 15, 2016
I believe the answer to this question is “people” – human beings. People can often be at their funniest when they’re not trying to be funny at all. Most people believe they are unique. There’s some truth in that thought but others go much further and believe that they are the only sane person on the planet.
“All the world is queer save thee and me, and even thou art a little queer.” Robert Owen (Welsh philosopher and philanthropist 1771-1858)
Some people think that the world revolves around only them. The British nation used to feel like that. Back then, in days gone by, th ...continued...
- By: Daniel M Doyle
- Saturday, October 15, 2016, 10:09:00 AM
- updated: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:09:00 AM