club 23 September 2008
I took a cab with a taxi driver who lives in my old area in Dublin during the week. He used to drink in my local and he reminded me of The Monday Club. Basically, it was a loose group of the disaffected who couldn’t be arsed going to work of a Monday. There were different members each week. In a way it’s still a splendid idea and as far as I know no one has ever died from taking a Monday off and heading to this pub nor has any business gone bust because of it. It’s a comfort to know it’s still going and that a little bit of anarchy is available each week. Mind you, I suspect a few Tuesdays were lost over the years too nursing the hangover from the Monday Club.
The pub in question had few rules but as a matter of policy if you were barred you stayed barred and the only time that rule was relaxed was for family funerals. My Dad used to love having a jar there and I don’t think he ever found a pub he liked as much in my new area, though I do still live quite close by. He also loved that the bookies was just across from the side door of the bar and the lounge boys would even go over and do your bets for you if you wanted. Now that’s service.
