The Pub Shall Rise Again

I read the news today, oh boy.

Last Thursday, the texts started arriving.

My daughter got the first one. It was from Liam Macik, a playwright, director, and podcaster who was a frequent special guest at Riley’s Storytelling Nights a few years back.

The second text came to me. It was from Christopher Laughrey, my long-time musical collaborator and bandmate in The Laughrey Connolly Band. Chris and I performed regularly at Riley’s back when it was Paddy’s Pour House.

After that, the...