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You are here: Home>People>Mike Power, Oughterard

Mike Power, Oughterard

Mike Power's Pub

Story submitted to Corrib News by Brian Cronin

In 1972 I was appointed manager of the Connemara Gateway Hotel situated just outside the village of Oughterard, Galway in the West of Ireland. The first few months were busy times as the Hotel was a seasonal one and was due to re-open for the season a month or two after our arrival. Oughterard itself is a lovely village and the two years spent there were very happy ones for both myself, Anne and our young family. I soon discovered the pub that was to become my local. It took a little while for them to get the hang of me in Mike Powers pub. It wasn't the sort of hostelry frequented by my predecessors and I didn't appear to have much in common initially  with Mike's local clientele which included county council workers, the local postman, the odd fisherman and the like. But I liked it, it was a perfect place to get away from business for an hour or so and it suited me to a tee.

The little whitewashed cottage pub with its thatched roof stands in the middle of the village street, squeezed incongruously between a large modern Supermarket on one side and a bustling guesthouse/restaurant on the other. In those days the dark smoky interior was lightened only by the glow of a smouldering turf fire lit each morning by Mike's sister who popped in for a couple of hours each day to 'do' for her bachelor brother. In the evenings as darkness closed in Mike would switch on the single neon strip light throwing the room and its contents into sharp relief. Somehow it didn't seem to detract from the unique atmosphere of the little bar. A small red electric light glowed in front of the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the far wall. Another wall sported a rings board and the other a framed copy of the 1916 proclamation of Independence and faded photographs of President Kennedy and Pope John XXIII. Several raffia mats were scattered here and there on the bare stone floor. The furniture was simple; a half dozen Formica topped tables scarred by numerous cigarette burns and matching chairs with tubular aluminium legs. At the bar stood five wooden bar stools. The two small windows facing onto the main street had flower patterned scatter cushions on the built in ledges. Some years earlier somebody had persuaded Mike to build a large modern lounge extension. He reluctantly gave way to pressure and a new modern lounge was built in the back yard leading to the toilets. It was apparently jammed on the opening night when Mike gave free drinks on the house. However his heart wasn't really in it; the lounge never really got used and it soon reverted to the passage way to the toilets it had always been; the only difference being that one didn't any longer have to brave the elements to get to the toilets.

Mike Power and I took to each other instantly. I told him at an early stage of our friendship of my years spent in our small family hotel in Cork. He enjoyed hearing about those boyhood memories of mine as he also grew up in a family pub. I think that it was this more than anything that formed the basis for our friendship.

Our home- the 'Park View Hotel' - situated opposite the railway station on the Lower Glanmire Road was much frequented by railway porters, corporation workers and taxi men. They spent much of their working day in the cosy interior of our public bar in those easy going days of the 1950's. Trains arrived at the station only a few times a day and the railway staff and taxi drivers, who were our best customers, developed a system whereby the Station master or his assistant would signal with a handkerchief to one of the 'lads' acting as a lookout at the window when a train was due causing the bar to empty out. For all that I don't recall ever seeing one of them drunk or misbehaving in any way. Those ordinary decent working men showed great respect for my mother who knew them all by name. Intemperate language was rarely heard and the quality of the conversation, stories and good-humoured repartee to which I listened eagerly was of a high order.

Mike Power prided himself on being able to pull a perfect pint of stout. I was able to tell him that I learned the art of 'pulling' a perfect pint of stout at a young age. Our bar in the Park View carried three different stouts; Guinness which of course was brewed in Dublin and Beamish and Murphy's both of which were brewed in Cork.

The following rhyme I learned as a youngster as a youngster:

'Guinness stout is good no doubt,

And Beamish stout is better.

But Murphy's stout, will knock you out

and leave you there forever!'

Depending on your taste and your loyalties one could inter- change the three brand names to suit.

I didn't get to visit Mike's pub too often during the busy summer months but once October arrived our company owned hotel closed for the winter period. My regular routine during those  quiet winter months was to visit Mike's in the late afternoon and those hours spent in the comfortable surrounds of my favourite pub prior to returning home for the evening meal were amongst my treasured memories of our Connemara years. A high point during that first Connemara winter was to be invited to join Mike Powers darts team and we had many matches against other teams in the area, both 'home' and 'away'. Trolling for trout on nearby Lough Corrib was another winter diversion and I received no end of good advice from my expert fisherman friends in Mike Powers on what was the best fly to use and also how to dap with live mayflies secured on a very light line at the end of a very log rod when the Mayfly season came around every year. 'When the trout strikes the fly Brian, give him a few seconds to swallow it and then strike!' was the good advice received, sometimes worked and sometimes ....it didn't. But that was all to do with the enjoyment of fishing the Mayfly.....

One of Mike's concessions to 'modern' times was the old black and white television set which sat on a ledge high up on one side of the bar. It was strictly controlled and only switched on for the television news at 6pm each evening and the occasional hurling, Gaelic football or international rugby match and then switched off again. An abiding memory of those carefree days is that of a respectable elderly Protestant couple - Mr and Mrs Davis - who were daily visitors to the pub. On the stroke of six o'clock the Angelus bell would peal out in advance of the television news. Mr Davis would remove his cap and in common with their Catholic neighbours the couple would bow their heads for the duration of the evening prayer.

Mike rarely moved out from his position behind the bar counter, except from time to time to put another log or sod of turf on the fire. The low bar ceiling, discoloured over the years by smoke from the turf fire and tobacco, caused Mike, who stood at least six feet six inches tall, to stoop slightly. A check cloth cap, which he never removed, surmounted his craggy weather beaten face. The stub of a cigarette invariably hung from his lower lip. Each time the bar street door opened the hum of conversation ceased, the silence broken only by the ticking of the old carriage clock on the wall behind the counter. The locals, hunched over the open fire or playing cards in one of the corner tables would surreptitiously scan the new arrivals before returning to the task in hand. Mike was very strict about whom he served and non-desirables were given very short shrift. The 'how are ye getting on 'greeting' from the tall figure behind the counter was the green light that all was well with the new arrivals and normal conversation in the bar would soon resume.

We left Oughterard in April 1972 to start a new career in Kinsale, County Cork and just after the birth of our lovely little daughter Faela who arrived on 1st April of that year and learned with great sadness a year or two after that that Mike had recently passed on to his reward in heaven, and I pen this chapter of my collection of Hotel tales as a little tribute to my old Connemara friend in whose company I spent so many happy hours.

  • Mike Power's Pub

    Mike Power's Pub

People
  • 3 Generations - Film on the People of Oughterard from 2003
  • A Celebration of Life of Paddy Tierney
  • A Last Hurrah for James Curley
  • A Tribute to a Local Legend - Pat Conneely
  • A Tribute to Dick Gilbert
  • A Tribute To Edward (Ned) Neary 1928-2012
  • A Tribute to Ellen Finnegan nee Thornton
  • A Tribute to Fran McDriscoll
  • A Tribute to Mattie Healy R.I.P.
  • A Tribute to Roger Finnerty
  • A Tribute to the Late Johnny O 'Connor
  • A Tribute to Tom and Sheila Morley
  • Alexander Nimmo (1783 - 1832)
  • An incident on the Corrib
  • Ancestry Research
  • Ancient Order of Hibernians Philadelphia 1908
  • Bambie and Grandad Joyce.
  • Barbara Clancy celebrates her 105th Christmas
  • Bernie Walsh - Musician
  • Boating off Inchagoill
  • Boston Pilot - Religious conversions but with Oughterard connection
  • Brigid O 'Connor 1879-1970
  • Camp Street in the 1920s
  • Canon Paddy Heneghan
  • Catherine (Kay) Cotter
  • Catherine/Kate Faherty -- Camp Street b abt 1835
  • Cecilia Kelly, sister of Jim Kelly, Baurisheen, Oughterard
  • Children's Group Photograph C.1926
  • Christina C. Richie, Oughterard 1872
  • Christy Ward, A Tribute
  • Claude Albert Chavasse
  • Co Galway Marriage Records of Lydon Men
  • Co. Galway Death records of Lydon and variations of the surname (not a complete listing)
  • Co. Galway Lydon's that appear on Griffiths Valuation 1855 (not a complete listing)
  • Colm De Bhailìs
  • Connoboy Family
  • Convent of Mercy 17th November 1924
  • Culture Night 2018
  • Cummin Clancy
  • Danny O'Neill
  • Daoine & Áit
  • Diane Marie O'Malley
  • Dick Cotter - RIP
  • DISTRESS IN THE WEST
  • Distress in the West 1862
  • Doon Evictions - Parish of Killannin
  • Dudley's War
  • Eamon Connolly, Maghera. Born 14th July 1955 - Died 18 November 2014
  • Eamon Connolly, Magheramore
  • Eddie Banks An Appreciation
  • Eddie D'Arcy with Michael D Higgins
  • Enjoying a day on Inchgoill - Summer 1980
  • F.C.A. Platoon Competition 1957
  • Fahy-Lee family
  • Family Ancestral Homeland
  • Famous Connections
  • Famous Oughterard Connections: Lord Killanin
  • Farewell to Canon Sean Manning
  • Farewell to Fr. Alan Burke
  • Farewell to Frank Walsh of Raha
  • Fay Tuck 1933 - 1980
  • First holy Communion Photograph 1955
  • Fr Frank Murphy 1917-2006
  • Frank McGauley
  • From Galway to New York
  • Garda Margaret (Peig) Tierney Brown
  • Garda Sean Sugrue
  • George R O'Malley
  • Gerry Galvin 1942-2013
  • Greetings from Canada
  • Hickey Family
  • Hubert Walsh, Billamore, Oughterard.
  • I have found my tribe....
  • Interesting account of Sir Richard Langrishe who was was involved in the Corrib Drainage Scheme in the 1850's.
  • Interview with Tom Monahan, Main Street, Oughterard
  • Iris Harben
  • Iris Harben: a life 12 April 1920 – 5 March 2019
  • J. Bruce Ismay
  • Jack Cleggett, Harold McCullagh, Fr Hyland P.P, Michael O'Flynn, Canon McCullagh taken in the late 1930's
  • James Egan and Julia Cleggett - A Tribute 1995
  • James Joseph Coyne (born Kyne)
  • Jean Rosamund Taylor (1919-2008)
  • Jim and Mary Curran
  • Jim Sullivan's story from his visit to Oughterard with his father Stephen and his brother Dick...when his grandmother Mary Sullivan(nee Darcy) was dying 1919
  • Joe Pilkington
  • John and Agnes Gill 1947
  • John Darcy and his wife Mary
  • John Duke Gilmore
  • John Geoghegan & Catherine Halloran
  • John Joe Conneely Rusheeney & Tommie Sullivan Glann making hay
  • John King Remembers
  • John the Yank
  • Joyce's Supermarket
  • Kathleen Maloney
  • Kathleen Mary Theresa Watts, daughter of Willie and Molly Watts, formerly of Camp Street then latterly of Lemonfield.
  • Kathleen recounts a century of memories
  • Ken Monaghan - A tribute
  • Kevin Healy R.I.P.
  • Knockillaree Sixty Years Ago
  • Landowners in County Galway 1871
  • Leam School
  • Linda Welby - A Story to Tell
  • Lines on the death of my Mother
  • Local Actress at Film Fleadh
  • looking for Information on James Duffy, Died 1919
  • Lost from Oughterard
  • Lydon Grave's in Co. Galway (not a complete listing)
  • Margaret Lee Shea, Derrymoyle
  • Mark (Mockie) Geoghegan
  • Mark Geoghegan, father of Jackie Geoghegan, Glengowla
  • Marriage Records 1809-1899
  • Mary Acton
  • Mary Conneely
  • Mary Kate Walsh- Memories
  • Mary Lydon with daughter Maisie C. 1948
  • Maurice Callanan RIP - A Tribute
  • Maurice O'Scanaill
  • Memorial Cards
  • Memorial Cards of People that lived in Leam
  • Memories from Oughterard Show 1983
  • Memories of Frank O'Halloran
  • Memories of Mary Kate Walsh (née Naughton) 1892-1984
  • Memories of Oughterard
  • Michael John Joyce - An Appreciation
  • Michael Lee
  • Michael Previté - RIP
  • Michael Waters 1933-2017
  • Michel Sardou
  • Mick Molloy - The World Beater
  • Mick Molloy & Martin Lee
  • Mike Power's Pub
  • Monaghan/Cleggett Family Photo taken about 1894
  • Morgan & Bab Lydon
  • Morley ready to chase his American Dream
  • Mrs Mary Moloney of Gortacarnaun
  • My family tree & please tell me more 1920s
  • My Friend Bill
  • My Return to Oughterard
  • New Bishop Visits Kilcummin Parish Church
  • Nimble Dick Martin
  • NUALA WALSH
  • O'Connor's Butchers, Camp Street
  • OBITUARY - Marion Lydon
  • Obituary - Marion Lydon
  • Obituary: Dr Willis, Oughterard, 1868
  • Old School Photographs
  • Oughterard Courthouse - A Brief History
  • Oughterard F.C.A. 1950
  • Oughterard Immigrant Inspection Cards
  • Oughterard is a lot like Rhode Island
  • Oughterard Pride of Place 2017
  • Oughterard Race Committee. 1953
  • Oughterard Soccer Football Team 1894-95
  • Oughterard's Famous Connections
  • Oughterard's Olympian donates his lifetime's awards to his native village
  • Our Elvis - Michael John Joyce
  • P. Joe and Jackie O'Malley C.1952
  • Paddy Clancy, Johnny O'Connor & Christy Butler
  • Paddy Geoghegan 20.07.1925 - 06.10.2010
  • Padraig "Dandy" Kelly - A Tribute
  • Pat Geoghegan, grandfather of Jackie Geoghegan, Glengowla
  • Pat Maloney - R.I.P. An Appreciation
  • Patrick & Timothy Lee
  • Patrick J. O'Connor
  • Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore
  • Peter and Kate Melia, Derrylaura
  • Peter Coyne and Brothers
  • Peter Geraghty
  • Phil Furniss
  • Photo from Sgt Major Sean Osborne's retirement from the FCA / RDF 2004
  • Photo Memories from Bridie Lydon
  • Photo memories of Cappagariff - Summer of 1958
  • Photo's of the O'Connor Family
  • Photograph, Convent Of Mercy, Oughterard 1924
  • Photographic Memories of the Faherty & O'Connor families and more from Padraig Faherty's photo collection
  • Photos from various events over the past few years
  • Postcard from 1917
  • Poteen Still
  • Private John Purcell VC 9th (The Queens’ Royal) Lancers
  • Profile of John King
  • Proud to call him my Dad
  • Queen of Connemara Festival August 1974
  • Remembering Christy
  • Remembering Gerry Clancy October 1951 - July 1986
  • Remembering Men from Oughterard who Died in W.W.1.
  • Reminiscence
  • Request for information
  • Residents of the West side of Camp Street (Fough West) Oughterard in the 1960s
  • Retirees Oughterard 1996
  • Retracing Century Old Footsteps in Oughterard
  • Rev. Alexander Dallas
  • Richard George Handover
  • Robert and James Lyons
  • Robert and James Lyons
  • Roland Wirsching 1936-2008
  • Ronald Stevens
  • Rosamund Previté Interview
  • Russell Worth
  • School Photograph, Convent of Mercy 1924
  • Seamus O Maille
  • Seamus O'Maille's Memorial Card
  • Seán Conneely 16 June 1941-17 July 2006
  • Sean Smyth An Appreciation
  • Seniors Group Gatherings
  • Sheila O'Sullivan - A Tribute
  • Sister Patricia Larkin
  • St Paul's Oughterard Debs 2007
  • St. Cuimín of Kilcummin
  • Stephen John Tierney
  • Stephen Lee with John Fahy & his sisters Julia Molloy & Bridget Fahy
  • Sullivan grave stone
  • The Connemara half of Somerville and Ross
  • The D'Arcys of Kiltullagh, Porridgetown East, and Magheramore
  • The Joyce Family
  • The Joyces’ and O’Flaherties
  • The Last Of The Bosses
  • The life and times of Richard Halloran 1925 - 2021
  • The Mayfly Market
  • The Mons Family of Gortnashingaun at Glann
  • The O'Connor Farmers of Burnthouse Killanin
  • The Oughterard Courthouse Celebrates Heritage week 2016
  • The Patron Saint of Lough Corrib
  • The Sound of Music - Oughterard Musical April 1968
  • The Year of O'Flaherty
  • Thomas Naughton, otherwise Thomas Fahy Naughton, Anglers Hotel, Oughterard
  • Tim Molloy, A Tribute
  • Time for investigation into the Roger Casement affair
  • Tom (Mahongy) Walsh
  • Tom Joyce Reminisces
  • Tom McQuinn
  • Tom Molloy & Antoinette Lydon
  • Tommie Sullivan Glann
  • Tommy Mallon, Boat Builder
  • Tribute to Bartley McDonagh, Maam Cross
  • Tribute to Bob Welby, Portacarron & Ivy Gable Moyvoon
  • Tribute to Frank (Frankie) Kyne 1932-2016
  • Tribute to John Joe Maher R.I.P.
  • Tribute to Paddy Kelly
  • Walsh's of Oughterard
  • Wedding Photo of Mary Enright and Mark Canavan
  • What Happened to Mark Mulvoy?
  • William M. Fine
  • William Mc Donagh, Oldchapel, Oughterard
  • Winifred Donnellan
  • Winnie O'Connor Faherty, Thomas Gill, Bridget Fahy O'Connor
  • Words in Remembrance of Sergeant Michael O'Shaughnessy 
  • American Newspaper Clippings
  • Mick Molloy
  • Corrib News & Newsletters of old
  • Colm de Bhailís - Colm Wallace
  • Daoine & Áit
  • Bartley/Barthly Molloy
  • Irish Newspaper Clippings
  • Memorial Cards
  • Genealogy
  • Albert Alexander Lyons
  • Camp Street
  • Faherty Family
  • Kinneavy/Gannon Family Camp Street
  • Lydon
  • Michael John Joyce - Our Elvis
  • Mike Power, Oughterard
  • Railway Gatekeepers Cottage, Magheramore
  • Richard Martin, Clareville
  • Seamus O'Maille
  • Stagpoole Family
  • Stephen Lambert
  • The Kelly Family, Gortnashingaun Townland, Glann
  • The Curley Family
  • The Gill Family
  • The McDonaghs of Billamore
  • The Martins of Ross
  • The Tuam Martyrs
  • Walter Macken
  • Willis Family
Featured pages
  • Memorial Cards

    Memorial Cards

  • Oughterard's Olympian donates his lifetime's awards to his native village

    Oughterard's Olympian donates his lifetime's awards to his native village

  • Oughterard Heritage Calendar 2023

    Oughterard Heritage Calendar 2023

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