Morris Corporation’s Rugby tour party is back – with greater numbers

THERE aren’t too many organisers of local events who took their visitors to Sheila Prendiville’s Bar and Grocery to make a great first impression.

The small handful who did were delighted with what they found there.

It could also have been what they didn’t find there. For there, you didn’t have a television bullying and shushing the flow of conversation from one end of the bar to the other.

One of the many memorable nights we had there was the one on which members of the Munster Rugby Corporation from New Jersey visited with Denis Brosnan and his son, Séamus, in January 2013.

There was an almost instant clicking of characters, and as the wine went in the wit came out. At the end of the night one of the party of seven Americans called for six pints. Barman Paul Reese was inclined to relax after a long day behind the counter and he told the caller to fill away himself.

He tried, but found there’s a knack to filling porter. The pub’s chief ambassador, David Dauber Prendiville, stepped into the breach and gave a master class with four of the six pints, and he handed two more glasses to one of the visitors. The order was filled to perfection.

On that occasion there were seven US visitors, and they haven’t missed a year since. Now, on the coming Friday, they’re back, and their number has increased to 50 – and the preparations are being made here.

They still talk about their introduction to the filling and appreciation of black porter and the unique surroundings in which the exchanges took place. While here they will play a selection from the local Castleisland RFC on Friday evening and they will be in Thomond Park on Saturday to see their beloved Munster play Exeter Chiefs in round six of the Champions Cup.

Photo by John Reidy Welcome back: Ciara Brosnan with her parents and hosts, Catherine and Denis, with Mike Ryan, US; Gerry Collins, special guest; Dan Robson, US; and Phil Stumph, US.