JIMMY’ S LATEST LOCAL‘ MIXER’ MAKES NATIONAL HEADLINES

ONE north Wexford publican has been given credit for putting Riverchapel on the map when his home deliveries of pints of Guinness made national news, and his latest initiative appeared on television, radio and in print.

Not a man known to shy away from a mixer, publican and former councillor Jimmy Fleming of Jimmyz bar, Riverchapel said he really didn’t expect his efforts to go viral and make the national news.

‘I just did it first for a goodwill gesture, I didn’t think much of it as it was just a couple of pints and a couple of elderly people and it grew wings then. It was just something small I was doing for locals, but when I put it up on Facebook it just snowballed from there’.

The unique story has gotten both a positive and negative response, with some questioning this action both in relation to sanitation as well as physical distancing guidelines, but Jimmy confirmed that he is not phased by negativity online.

‘When the Independent did the story, thousands of people saw it and the comments that came back were a mixed bag. Anyone local and anyone who knows me were all up for it. I wasn’t doing it for publicity or anything, I was just doing it for a bit of craic and banter, and to reach out to the elderly people because they are isolated.

‘I didn’t go into the detail in the piece, but I had sanitised my hands before and after I delivered the pint, I have a hand sanitiser in the car with me. Then I wash my hands for 20 seconds with soap, so everything is done properly.

‘Any of the negative comments, they didn’t bother me at all as I knew I was doing everything right so that’s why I wouldn’t even respond to negative comments. There are loads of negative people out there but I was doing it for a community thing, to keep people going in their hour of need.

‘If I think it’s a health hazard, I’ll stop straight away but I’m not charging for it so it’s not like I’m making a profit’.

Unfortunately for Jimmy, as new restrictions came into force from midnight on Friday last, the latest mixer was short lived. Claiming that ‘all good things come to an end,’ Jimmy announced that would be ceased his deliveries.

He said that other pub owners are feeling the pressure since pubs were advised by the Irish government to close their doors.

‘What I’m afraid of is that a lot of pubs that are closed now might not open again. Pubs are under pressure and it’s a huge hit. We were coming in to our busy time with St Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day and religious events like funerals, confirmations and communions when we were told to close. We were coming out of January and February which are the quiet months anyway. It’s tough times, but we have to do what we have to do. But people just have to do what they’re told.

‘I was talking to a couple of publicans after the story broke and they were thinking of doing it too. But we will have one hell of a party when this is all over’.

Jimmy said that his latest scheme was as much about bringing a smile to a customer’s face at the door than just their alcoholic drink of choice.

‘We thought of the idea after St Patrick’s Day, Tuesday or Wednesday, when I was thinking of one of the regulars who had lost his wife. I rang him and got chatting, and I offered him a pint and he was delighted to accept. When I saw the look on his face, that was what made me want to go on and do it for more people.

‘ The next day then I called up to another couple, knocked the door and handed drinks to them, again the look on their faces, it was something like Christmas morning, there’s nothing like it.

‘I’ve been doing this to lighten the mood because people are worried. I just thought it was something that people would enjoy, but it’s unbelievable how it has snowballed into a national story. But we are in a new reality and I’ve regulars here, they come in seven days a week. They might only drink two or three pints over a few hours but at least they are getting out, talking about the weather, events and what’s happening.

‘ That’s their way of getting out, talking to other elderly people, it’s totally social. Now that we’re stuck all indoors, there is going to be mental health issues coming out of this, without a doubt,’ he said.

Jimmy wished to thank the people of Wexford for their supportive messages.

I WASN’T DOING IT FOR PUBLICITY, JUST FOR A BIT OF CRAIC AND BANTER, AND TO REACH OUT TO THE ELDERLY PEOPLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE ISOLATED.

Jimmy Fleming outside his pub in Riverchapel and (right) serving one of his customers on his rounds.